The Bishop of Karpasia has announced he will fully cooperate with police regarding allegations of misappropriating funds from a club he once presided over.
- The Bishop of Karpasia has announced he will fully cooperate with police regarding allegations of misappropriating funds from a club he once presided over.
- The funds raised from donations were intended for the club, and the complainant, who was a member and clerk of the club for seven years, has accused the bishop of “abusing” her trust.
Bishop Christoforos made his intentions known on Tuesday through a statement issued by his legal representatives. He is making himself “available” to authorities as they delve into claims related to events from 2020.
In a pointed remark, the statement suggested that the accusations might be linked to internal Church politics. “The only thing for certain is that the timing of the complaint cannot be disconnected from the upcoming filling of the position of the Paphos bishopric,” it stated.
This comment appears to reference the impending elections for the now-vacant Paphos bishopric, a position that has been without a permanent holder since May, when the former Bishop Tychikos was stripped of his title due to mismanagement.
Reports indicate that the sum allegedly misappropriated by Bishop Christoforos amounts to €110,000. The complaint was lodged on Monday by a woman with ties to the club in question, who filed it with the Limassol CID.
According to her allegations, Christoforos transferred cash reserves from the private club to his personal bank accounts, a process that reportedly unfolded over the 2020-2021 period. The woman claims he illegally amended the club’s charter, allowing him to siphon off funds that should have been allocated to a specific bishopric in the event of dissolution.
In 2019, it is alleged that Christoforos modified the charter to permit the funds to be distributed to individuals or corporate entities upon the club’s dissolution. Consequently, when the club’s funds were purportedly transferred to the accounts of two individuals, they eventually made their way into Christoforos’ own bank account.
The funds raised from donations were intended for the club, and the complainant, who was a member and clerk of the club for seven years, has accused the bishop of “abusing” her trust.
