A Polish priest faces a potential sentencing appeal after reportedly using 1.2 million złoty from government and municipal grants intended for church renovations to buy cryptocurrencies.
Sentence Appeal for Priest Accused of Fraud
A trial regarding a priest from Legnickie Pole accused of misappropriating funds for his church’s renovation has been delayed to September 18th due to the “complexity of the case.” The original conviction from January 2022 sentenced the priest to two years in prison.
Priest’s Background and Current Status
The priest, Włodzimierz G., has been suspended by his bishop and currently can only celebrate Mass. He is required to maintain himself through the support of people and parishioners.
Alleged Fraud and Cryptocurrency Involvement
The priest is accused of defrauding 1.2 million złoty in federal and municipal grants designated for renovating the church in Gniewomierz. According to prosecutors, he used part of the money to buy cryptocurrencies through a foreign company, while the remainder was paid out.
Possible Victimization
Investigators have gathered evidence including recordings of conversations between the priest and bank representatives, as well as a forensic examination showing that the priest had installed a program allowing unauthorized access to the parish computer. The priest filed a complaint about unauthorized access to data, but it was dismissed due to unidentified culprits. However, the public prosecutor, a co-plaintiff representative working on behalf of the parish, and the priest’s attorney disagree on the intentional misuse of funds.
