A court of appeals judge assigned the case of Vatopedi Monastery Abbot Ephraim, rejected a petition on Thursday filed by the defendant requesting to be released, stressing that he does not meet the necessary preconditions.
Ephraim requested his release, citing health reasons and maintaining that he is innocent of the charges against him.
Abbot Ephraim is held in custody as a suspect in the controversial land swap case involving the Greek state and the Vatopedi Monastery on Mt. Athos.
He has been in custody since Dec. 23, 2011 following a ruling by the Council of Court of Appeals Judges that intervened to settle a disagreement between the examining judge and the responsible prosecutor on whether he should be held on remand pending trial.
(Source: AMNA)
Salonica
16°
