Priest receives suspended prison sentence in child charity abuse scandal

Father Antonios Papanikolaou, founder of the renowned Greek charity Ark of the World (Kivotos tou Kosmou), has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison, converted into a financial penalty (10 euros per day), after being found guilty of multiple counts of physical abuse against children under his care.

The verdict was delivered by an Athens court following an eight-month trial that saw Papanikolaou and several former staff members accused of abuse and mistreatment.

The charges against the 54-year-old priest included serious bodily harm and instigation of violence against minors. 

Four former employees of the charity also received sentences, from 17 to 40 months, most of which were suspended pending appeals. 

The charity, once lauded for its work, became embroiled in scandal after multiple allegations of abuse surfaced, prompting state investigations and the suspension of government funding.