The mother of one of the children who suffered degrading and brutal treatment at the Ark of the World testified at the trial of Father Antonio and seven former employees of the NGO.

The woman, an immigrant, told the court that she sought the Ark’s help in 2008 for her 2.5-year-old son

The witness testified that she worked for some time at the NGO, without insurance, with 150 euros, so that her son can live in Ark structures.

According to the witness, the child, by decision of the protagonist of the clergy case, was transferred from the structure in Athens to a structure in Kalamata where they were promised that the boy would study and she would have insurance coverage.

As the witness described, her minor child did not go to school every day, as the managers of the structure made him work, while she saw signs of beating on his face.

“I have also seen children being hit, I have had a fight with P…, I saw a child with a black eye. I told him “I will report you” and he replied that the child did it alone. In Athens I have seen three children with scars, one was my son. They were blaming the children for something that was happening. At night I was afraid that they would jump from the window. That day when I had a fight with P… they informed the elder that I would file a complaint The elder called me and she had P… I expected to hear good words, but I didn’t. She told me that the children had “done something in Kalamata” and “I will send them to a juvenile prison”, said the witness, who emphasized that they had changed the children’s residence from Kalamata to Athens as a punishment and that they were putting them in isolation. She also said that her child told her that he had been beaten with an iron.

The woman stated to questions that Father Antonios knew what was happening, while she referred to “threats” that she and her son receive even today from a defendant in the trial.

Defense: 11.5 thousand children have passed through the Ark. Why should these children beat your son? Because they were suspended from school. What did they win?

Witness: They put them in and they worked hard, they didn’t want to bring regular workers and pay.

Defense: There are statements from three children who say that your son was selling drugs and stealing in Kalamata. Why would they lie?

Witness: They probably threatened them, like A threatened me and my son….

Defense: What is your son afraid of and not testifying here in court?

Witness: He fears for his life. And I am afraid even now that something will happen to me and my child and you are looking for me somewhere else.