Kivotos tou Kosmou: 9.5-year prison sentence for Father Antonios

Father Antonios, the founder of the NGO, was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison (with 8 years to be served) for the misdemeanors related to the child abuse case at “The Ark of the World.” The court’s sentence was nearly double the one given at the first-instance court, with 8 years being served. The court also decided that the 8-year sentence could be converted to a fine of 10 euros per day, and imposed legal costs of 1,200 euros on him and the other convicted defendants.

To remain free, Father Antonios would need to pay over 60,000 euros.

The Three-Member Court of Appeals sentenced the other convicted defendants to prison terms ranging from 20 months to 55.5 months. The sentences for the second and third defendants were converted into payable fines of 10 euros per day, while the fourth and fifth defendants had their sentences suspended for three years.

Specifically, the sentences for Father Antonios’ collaborators are as follows:

• For the second defendant: a prison sentence of 55.5 months, or 4 years, 7 months, and 15 days.
• For the third defendant: a prison sentence of 30 months, or 3 years and 4 months.
• For the fourth defendant: a prison sentence of 20 months, or 1 year and 8 months.
• For the fifth defendant: a prison sentence of 25 months, or 2 years and 1 month.

Investigation for perjury

Finally, the court decided to refer the case file to the Athens Public Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation of perjury charges against four witnesses who made false statements in the second degree while previously testifying truthfully in the first degree. The charges also include participation in the crime of perjury in terms of moral complicity and simple or direct complicity. “The issue of pressure, deceit, or confusion regarding their false testimonies will be investigated by the prosecuting authorities,” stated the prosecutor during her recommendation.

The prosecutor had recommended that Father Antonios be sentenced to a consolidated term of 9 years and 6 months, and proposed sentences ranging from 24 to 55 months for the other four convicted defendants.

Earlier today, Thursday (19/2), the Athens Three-Member Court of Appeals unanimously decided to find Father Antonios and the four other defendants guilty of misdemeanors related to the abuse of children at “The Ark of the World.”

With all defendants absent, the second-instance court delivered its verdict shortly after 8:30 AM.

Father Antonios was found guilty, as in the first instance, of additional bodily harm charges for which he had been acquitted at the first level.

Specifically, the three judges’ assessment was as follows:

• Father Antonios was found guilty of aggravated bodily harm (for some acts he was acquitted) and simple bodily harm as both a moral and physical author.
• The second defendant was found guilty of aggravated bodily harm (for some acts he was acquitted) and simple bodily harm.
• The third defendant was found guilty of dangerous bodily harm, simple bodily harm, and threats against minors (for some acts he was acquitted).
• The fourth defendant was found guilty of aggravated bodily harm (for some acts he was acquitted) and aiding in simple bodily harm committed by the third defendant.
• The fifth defendant was found guilty of aggravated bodily harm and exposure, while acquitted of other charges.
• The court’s judgment was fully exonerating for the sixth and seventh defendants, as in the first instance.

It should be noted that only the lawyers of the fifth and sixth defendants were present for the defense, as the lawyers for the others, including Father Antonios, have long withdrawn from the procedure, citing a lack of trust in the court.

Mitigating factors

As for the mitigating factors, the fifth and sixth defendants requested the granting of sincere remorse after the act and non-humiliating causes, claiming that they were under “psychological and functional dependence on Father Antonios.”

The prosecutor recommended accepting the mitigating factor of sincere remorse after the act, but rejecting the one concerning non-humiliating causes.

“The use of violent behavior against minors with extreme measures cannot be considered pedagogical measures according to common understanding. Therefore, they knew that what they did was contrary to logic and pedagogical science. There is no issue of dependency because they understood what they were doing, and that the use of violence and isolation is not a pedagogical measure.”