Crete: New Deadline for Accused Bishop in Mafia Case

A cleric allegedly involved in the sale of 175 acres of the Holy Monastery of Stavros Akrotiri in Crete has been granted a new deadline. According to cretapost, the cleric, through his lawyer, requested a deadline to testify at the beginning of next week.

The charges relate to violation of the law on moral instigation to continuous blackmail, moral instigation to dangerous bodily harm, and breach of trust with financial damage exceeding 120,000 euros.

The cleric is also expected to explain the "pink videos" with which the two alleged leaders of a criminal organization allegedly blackmailed him to grant the land. He has denied the existence of the videos. The alleged leaders' side claims the case is a "bubble" and will seek their clients' release if the cleric confirms there was no blackmail.

The case file states that the land was bought by an Israeli group through one of the defendants, with the "seal" of the then bishop and the lawyer involved in the sale.