Painter Freed<i> ,</i> Four Jailed in Art Thefts

A prominent Greek painter, Yannis Tsarouhis, 80, was found not guilty Saturday of receiving stolen art works. However, four of his five co-defendants were jailed after a sensational trial.

Yannis Kotsaftis, 38, and Chrysanthos Raftopoulos, 36, were sentenced to 10 and 7 years, respectively, for stealing priceless icons from medieval Orthodox churches and monasteries.

Tsarouhis’ former secretary, 33-year-old Alexander Savvakis, who was indicted for swapping Tsarouhis’ works for stolen icons, received a four-year term for receiving stolen goods.

Kotsaftis was arrested when he returned from the island of Andros in August, 1984, with objects from a monastery. Raftopoulos said in court that Kotsaftis was given the objects by an abbot in exchange for sex, a claim that was not investigated.