Greek priest jailed for defrauding elderly man of €259,000 in Kavala

A Greek Orthodox priest has been sentenced to eight years in prison after defrauding a 75-year-old man out of €259,000, which he reportedly used to renovate his own home.

According to the victim’s lawyer Stavros Georgiou's statement in MEGA TV, the elderly man entrusted the priest with his savings after being promised higher returns than the banks could offer. The victim, divorced and living alone in Kavala, believed he could trust the priest as a man of the Church.

"The priest convinced him to add him as a co-holder on his bank account," said Georgiou. "Within a month, he withdrew all the money and vanished."

The fraud came to light when the victim reported the theft, prompting the intervention of the local Metropolis. The bishop ordered the priest to return the funds and referred him to a synodical court, though the cleric has repeatedly delayed proceedings.

The case also proceeded through the criminal courts. During questioning, the priest reportedly told the investigating judge, "I may be a priest, but I'm also a father with children."

The court rejected the priest’s defense that the money was a gift and found him guilty of embezzlement by fraud. His attempt to shift blame onto two bank employees was also dismissed, as both testified against his claims.

The victim, now penniless, currently resides in the care home operated by the Metropolis of Kavala.