The Three-Member Misdemeanour Court convicted Antonios Papanikolaou, founder of the NGO “Kivotos tou Kosmou”, and four of his six co-defendants for abusive punishments of children in the organisation’s care. Two co-defendants were fully acquitted.
Court proceedings
After the lawyers completed their addresses, the court initially delayed the verdict announcement due to the clerk insisting on adhering to her working hours. The judges reconvened the next morning to deliver the decision on the guilt of the defendants.
Charges and verdict
The prosecution had sought Papanikolaou’s conviction for nine charges, including causing serious bodily harm, compelling child labour, and being an accessory to physical harm. The court found him guilty of nine charges, including:
- Six counts of causing serious bodily harm to minors under his care
- Accessory to dangerous bodily harm
- Accessory to simple bodily harm
- Accessory to threats
The court also convicted four staff members for various offences, including serious bodily harm, dangerous bodily harm, simple bodily harm, threats, and endangerment.
Two staff members were acquitted of all charges. Among those convicted are a former board member of the NGO, the former head of educators in Volos, and the former director of the Volos facility.
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