Digging up old graves to sell them to the bereaved?
By Elias Hazou
A BUSINESS-minded cleric may have been the mastermind behind a scam involving the selling of sealed graves at a premium price.
According to daily Simerini, the industrious priest made the most of the lack of space in an overcrowded Nicosia cemetery by opening old graves and reselling them to the unsuspecting bereaved. The “going rate” was reportedly anywhere from £1,000 to £2,000.
According to reports, up to 300 people who wanted to put their relatives at rest were conned in this way.
The same paper claimed yesterday the cleric had skimmed the Archbishopric to the tune of half a million pounds, prompting the launch of an inquiry.
It is not known how exactly the matter came to the attention of Church officials. It is said that distressed people complained to the relevant diocese that they could not find space to bury their dead. At some point some of them made more serious allegations, such as that certain graves were being mysteriously opened up.
The shortage of legroom at the cemetery was well known to church authorities, who had resorted to extraordinary measures to accommodate demand, for example by allowing the digging of tombs in areas normally reserved as walkways. But the desecration of tombs was quite another thing.
Initially, the accusations of dodgy practices were attributed to exaggeration and hearsay; it was only when rumours persisted that the concerned bishopric decided to investigate. It’s also highly likely that suspicions were raised by a discrepancy in the books.
A spokesman for the bishopric yesterday confirmed to the Mail that an internal church probe was under way and that it related to the graves, but would comment no further.
For the time being, the Church is keeping a low profile, in a bid to resolve the matter discreetly. The issue has yet to be referred to the top body, the Holy Synod. Moreover, Church investigators want to be absolutely sure that the allegations against the priest hold water before handing the matter over to police.
The Mail has learned that the site in question is the Constandinou & Elenis cemetery in the Ayios Antonios suburb.
The cemetery is the largest and busiest of the capital, and “competition” for a prime burial location is a well-known phenomenon. And it’s been suggested by some that the alleged defilement of graves may be a tale spun by those unhappy with funerary arrangements.
A priest there, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday he had heard the rumours but was adamant that it was impossible to open up an old grave.
“It can’t happen. The paperwork alone for the burial rules that out,” he said.
Although aware of the inquiry, he speculated it was more likely related to “embezzlement” rather than the crime alluded to in the press.
“Everything shall be revealed,” he said confidently.
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