A Greek prosecutor has recommended that the founder of the child welfare organization “Kivotos tou Kosmou” (Ark of the World), a prominent figure known as Father Antonios, his wife (referred to as the “presvytera”), and a third individual be sent to trial over alleged financial crimes linked to the organization’s operations.
The recommendation, addressed to a judicial council, concerns a series of serious charges including repeated breach of trust causing damages exceeding €120,000, embezzlement of large value by those managing foreign assets, complicity in these acts, and money laundering linked to criminal activity.
Allegations of financial mismanagement
According to the prosecutor’s findings, the accused are alleged to have taken advantage of the organization’s rising income and a lack of structured financial oversight. This, the report claims, created conditions in which funds could be misappropriated without effective control.
The prosecutor describes a system in which there was no formal cash management procedure, donations were not properly monitored, and the central fund was never adequately audited. In addition, financial records were reportedly not reconciled with accounting data in any substantial way.
Unrecorded accounts and cash withdrawals
A key point in the investigation is the discovery of 63 bank accounts not recorded in the organization’s official books. The prosecutor’s report also highlights specific actions attributed mainly to the presvytera, who is described as acting under the “persuasion and insistence” of Father Antonios.
Among the alleged actions is the withdrawal of cash from a bank safe deposit box shortly before she was removed from her management role.
Alleged misappropriation of assets
The report further states that after the appointment of an interim administration on 22 November 2022, the presvytera was required to hand over all assets belonging to the organization. Instead, she allegedly retained and misappropriated assets valued at €867,740, including large amounts of cash, gold coins, and valuable items.
Next steps in the legal process
The prosecutor has also requested that existing restrictive measures, including a travel ban imposed on the two main defendants following their earlier testimony, remain in place.
