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