Kivotos tou Kosmou: Guilty plea proposal for Father Antonios and four others

The prosecutor has proposed a guilty verdict for Father Antonios and four of his co-defendants in the trial regarding misdemeanors related to allegations of abusive behavior in the organization “Kivotos tou Kosmou,” primarily in Athens and Volos.

The prosecutor, Panagiota Simigianni, requested the conviction of the five defendants for certain acts, while proposing their acquittal for others. She also recommended the acquittal of two defendants.

Simigianni, referring to Father Antonios, stated that he was the “reference figure of Kivotos” as “everything passed through his hands, nothing happened without his knowledge.” She described him as the “de facto central figure and leader of Kivotos tou Kosmou,” emphasizing that he had influence over significant matters related to the minors. Regarding the other defendants, who were employees of the organization, she stated that four should be found guilty for the prolonged isolation of a minor in the structure of Upper Volos, which was reportedly known to Father Antonios. She argued that his claim of ignorance about the situation was unconvincing.

Regarding an incident of assault on the same minor, K.K., the prosecutor requested the defendants be found guilty of this charge as well, as accomplices. For one of them, she requested a guilty verdict for threats.

Regarding the allegations involving the Volos structures, the prosecutor proposed a guilty verdict for Father Antonios for moral instigation, stating: “The first defendant was aware of the dangerous behavior exhibited by his co-defendants. The claim that the victim harmed himself is not proven.” She added: “It is proven that the first defendant played the role of the moral instigator in the actions of his collaborators.”

Concerning the allegation of severe bodily harm to hosted individuals who were transferred from Kalamata to Kolonos, she recommended a guilty verdict for Father Antonios and his co-defendant, asserting that violence was indeed exercised. She also suggested a guilty verdict for Father Antonios for the case of a hosted individual in the structures of Volos, Dimini, and Athens, who, while injured, was forced to work. Similarly, she proposed a guilty verdict for Father Antonios regarding forced labor imposed on guests in the Volos structure.

Finally, the prosecutor proposed the acquittal of Father Antonios and his co-defendants for incidents of abuse in the Chios structure.