Father Antonios, founder of the Ark of the World organization, has been sentenced to 9.5 years in prison for bodily harm against minors in his organization's care, with the sentence converted to a financial penalty.
Father Antonios, the founder of the non-profit organization Ark of the World, was convicted by a three-member appellate misdemeanor court for causing bodily harm to foster children under his care. The court found him guilty along with four of the six co-defendants for acts of cruel punishments inflicted on minors in the organization's facilities. His prison sentence of 9.5 years was converted to a monetary penalty, with a daily fee set at 10 euros, meaning he must pay 60,000 euros to remain free.
In addition to Father Antonios, four former employees of the Ark of the World received varying sentences ranging from 20 to 55.5 months, with two of them also having their punishment converted to monetary fines while the other two received suspended sentences. The court's decision reflects a growing concern over maltreatment in organizations designed to protect vulnerable children and highlights the accountability of those in charge of such institutions.
As the judicial proceedings concluded, the court forwarded the case's records to the prosecutor’s office to investigate potential perjury by four witnesses who testified. This development may indicate that the investigation is not over yet, as further scrutiny into the testimonies suggests that the case may have deeper layers of concern surrounding the treatment of children in the Ark of the World.
