Greek abbot sent to jail before land scandal trial

Abbot Efraim

ATHENS,  (Reuters) – The abbot of one of  Greece’s richest and most powerful monasteries was sent to  prison yesterday while awaiting trial for fraud in a  high-profile land swap deal.  The imprisonment of Abbot Efraim, head of the revered,  1,000-year-old Vatopedi Monastery in Mount Athos, sparked a row  with Russia, another stronghold of Orthodox Christianity, which  described it as a breach of human rights.

Abbot Efraim

Efraim is the highest-profile individual to be arrested in  the government’s latest crackdown on corruption – a chronic  problem that helped spawn Greece’s seismic debt crisis.

But far from placating public anger over widespread  corruption, the detention has caused an outcry in religious and  conservative circles in Athens and Moscow.

Many Greeks think politicians not priests should bear the  brunt of the blame for the country’s economic woes.

“They rushed Efraim to jail … while others who have  embezzled Greek people’s money remain at large,” said George  Karatzaferis, leader of the far-right LAOS party which is part  of Greece’s coalition government.

Despite parliamentary investigations into several  public officials, no senior politician has so far been charged.

“Undoubtedly the pre-trial jailing could create the  impression, in one part of Greek society, that finally someone  is paying for a such a big scandal,” said Costas Panagopoulos,  head of ALCO pollsters.     “But it also reminds everyone that all politicians involved  in this case are left unpunished,” he said. The government’s anti-corruption crackdown hit another snag  yesterday when two newly-appointed special prosecutors  targeting economic crime resigned, complaining of political  meddling. They did not give details.

SCANDAL     
Cypriot-born Efraim, 56, has been accused of masterminding a  scheme six years ago under which monks convinced government  officials to exchange cheap farmland — including lakes — for  prime Athens real estate. Prosecutors said the deal cost the  Greek state tens of millions of euros.

Efraim, born Vassileios Koutsou, denies all charges. He was  detained in Greece’s biggest prison, Korydallos in Athens, and  could face a lengthy term behind bars if convicted.

Prosecutors demanded he be held before the trial because of  the gravity of the accusations. They argued he could try to use  his position to influence others if he was allowed to remain  free.

Greek lawmakers have investigated three former government  ministers over Vatopedi. But the case against them was dropped  because it fell under a statute of limitations which applies  specifically to those who have held government office.