April 14, 2005

Disgraced Greek bishop faces trial on money laundering charges

GREECE
North County Times

By: Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece -- A senior Greek Orthodox bishop who is being investigated by church and state authorities has been ordered to stand trial on money laundering charges, court officials said Wednesday.

Metropolitan Bishop Panteleimon of Attica was charged with laundering money and embezzling about $376,500 from a monastery near Athens between 1996 and 1997. No trial date has been set.

If convicted on both charges, he faces more than 10 years in prison.

The indictments come nearly three months after the church began investigating allegations of sex and corruption scandals in its ranks.

Posted by kshaw at April 14, 2005 06:28 AM