A 48-year-old Capuchin priest was arrested in New York, United States, on Saturday on suspicion of fraud. Prosecutors say the priest stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in a scheme in which he posed as a member of the royal family and a Lebanese doctor.
The religious order itself reported Pavel Beletsky’s suspicious activity, reporting the “suspicious activity” to prosecutors. The Capuchins were not involved in the scheme, which resulted in the priest stealing about a million dollars (almost 900 thousand euros).
“The Capuchins firmly believe that no one should violate the public trust, especially a member of the Church. That is why we reported suspicious activity. [de Pawel] authorities and we cooperate with them,” the Capuchins wrote in a statement sent to a Catholic portal. Pillar.
Prosecutors say the priest used his position to gain the trust of victims and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Through radio interviews or podcasts, as well as fundraising, the priest asked for money to finance supposed medical expenses at clinics he allegedly ran in Lebanon. However, the priest kept the money for himself and used it for various luxury items.
Between December 2017 and February 2024, the Capuchins transferred large sums of money. He spent around 300 euros a month on a monthly membership to a luxury gym, ate at expensive restaurants and paid for several plastic surgeries.
On a local radio station in New York, he even introduced himself as a priest and doctor at a clinic in Beirut that supports Christians in the Middle East.
In addition to the evidence available to authorities proving that Pavel has no medical training, travel records also show that the priest never left the United States between December 2019 and April 2022 – when, for example, in August 2020, he was injured in an explosion in Lebanon.
Capucine also posed as a descendant of the British and Danish royal families to extort money. Some of the stolen money was used for plastic surgery and gym memberships.
At the Capuchins, Paul took a vow of poverty that prevents him from owning property or bank accounts in his own name. The province pays each priest a “salary” of $250 for personal expenses.
Colleagues of the priest told The Pillar that they believe he will indeed undergo medical training. Pawel joined the Capuchins at the age of 18 in Poland, where he was born. Ordained a priest in 2001, he went to New York in 2011.
The Capuchins have not yet made an official decision regarding the future of the priest.
Pavel is accused of fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Author: Miguel Pinheiro Correia
Source: CM Jornal
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