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The Panevėžys Regional Prosecutor’s Office referred the case to the court, in which the priest from the Aukštaitija region is accused of having photos and videos of pornographic content depicting minors. “We sincerely apologize to the faithful and society for what happened,” Eimantas Novikas, Dean of the Deanery of Rokiškis, started the conversation with Rokiškis Sirena.
As reported by the prosecutor’s office, law enforcement officers launched a pre-trial investigation against this cleric in another investigation into similar crimes. This was also confirmed by Dean E. Novikas. According to the interlocutor, the suspect is a vicar. The priest had not previously told the dean that he was undergoing a pretrial investigation. “I only found out on Monday,” said the dean. He explained that suspicions led officers to the Rokiškis deanery during the investigation of the case of one of the clergy from the Šiauliai diocese. Not only did he download banned videos for himself, but he also shared them. One of those to whom the records were sent is also a cleric in the Deanery of Rokiškis. According to the dean, he has no way to prevent similar behavior – there is no way to check someone else’s private phone or computer, what and how he sends, what he watches, or what he communicates with in his spare time.
A cleric is only suspected of a crime in cyberspace. The dean explained that there was no suspicion of a real relationship with the minors: this cleric did not exceed the permissible limits in communication with the young man, he did not communicate outside of work and the young man did not visit him.
Until the trial, the alleged clergyman, according to Dean E. Novik, will repent at the monastery. Your best chances of remaining a cleric will become clear after the court verdict. Dean E. Novik asks believers to pray for the fallen clergyman that God will give him the strength to survive the consequences of the mistake he made.
Initially, it was established that a priest from the Diocese of Šiauliai shared pornographic videos and photos with other people through the social media application Messenger. Among the recipients with whom he shared pornography was a parish priest belonging to the diocese of Panevėžys.
During the pre-trial investigation, many pornographic videos and photos were found on the computer of the cleric from the Aukštaitija region. After reviewing them, experts from the Office of the Inspector of Journalistic Ethics found that at least 53 electronic files contained pornographic videos and photos depicting children under 18 or depicting people as children.
According to the prosecutor Ričardas Juozainis, who led the pre-trial investigation, the defendant admits his guilt. He said he knew downloading and storing pornographic videos and photos depicting children is prohibited and regrets doing so. The Curia of the Diocese of Panevėžys was informed about the pre-trial investigation carried out against this cleric.
Among these records on the priest’s computer were 31 photos, which are included in Interpol’s database of child sexual exploitation.
As the bishopric of Panevėžys reported to the BNS, the aforementioned cleric is currently removed from all functions.
“This clergyman is relieved of all duties. This will be the case before judgment is passed. After the announcement of the judicial decision, the investigation of this crime will be carried out and all the material will be delivered to the Congregation for the Faith, which will give instructions on the punishment or pronounce the sentence itself,
The case will be heard at the Rokiškis Palace of the Panevėžys District Court.
The Penal Code establishes a fine or imprisonment of up to two years for disposing of pornographic content that depicts a child or presents a person as a child.
Officers from the Panevėžys County Police Commissariat Major Crimes Investigation Board of the Criminal Police conducted the pre-trial investigation separately, led by the Prosecutor of the First Prosecution Division of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office by Panevėžys Ričardas Juozainis when we have the information.
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