Avakoum monastery fraud trial hears defence challenge ex-monk's abuse claims
Lawyers for two monks accused of fraud at the Avakoum monastery have questioned a former monk's testimony that he was overworked and had his documents taken, as the trial continues in Cyprus.
The trial over alleged fraud at the Avakoum monastery continued on Wednesday, with defence lawyers challenging a former monk's claims that he was mistreated during his time there, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
The witness has testified that he worked gruelling hours, had his documents confiscated and was denied contact with his family while at the monastery.
Defence counsel presented photographs and video material, including a picture of the witness building a snowman with a fellow monk in the snow, another from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem showing him holding a camera he said he was given with his superior's blessing after asking for a way to keep memories, since he had no mobile phone. A video filmed at the monastery's confectionery workshop in Askas showed him and other monks preparing sweets to Christmas music.
The witness did not dispute that the scenes were genuine but stood by his account. He said the workshop footage matched his description of shifts that ran into the early hours, and that occasional permissions, such as being allowed a camera, did not mean he was treated equally with monks who had phones or computers.
Lawyers also pressed him on money and paperwork, since he had testified there were no receipts for goods sold at the monastery. Defence counsel Kostis Efstathiou said receipt books existed and were in use, but the witness maintained he never saw one, explaining he spent most of his time in the workshop rather than the shop floor.
He also rejected suggestions he had lied about when his identity card was due to expire, saying his personal documents had been kept by one of the defendants throughout his time at the monastery. Asked about a fainting episode he described in earlier testimony, the witness said it followed both exhaustion from overwork and a gas leak that caused carbon dioxide inhalation, an explanation the defence suggested he had shaped to fit his case.
The court adjourned the case after a defence request citing an unexpected absence, with hearings due to resume on September 23 and 28. The two monks deny all charges, which include conspiracy to defraud, forgery, theft, money laundering and filing false tax returns.
What it means for residents
The case concerns a monastery that has been part of the local community, and its outcome may affect how people view religious institutions and the businesses connected to them. For those who live nearby or have dealings with monastery-run operations, the proceedings are worth following as they unfold.
- Local business ties: If you buy products from monastery workshops or shops, the testimony about receipts and sales records may be relevant to how those operations are run.
- Court schedule: Hearings are set for September 23 and 28, so anyone planning to attend or follow the case should note these dates.
- Community impact: The trial may influence trust in local religious institutions and their financial practices, which can matter for donations and volunteer work.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
