ZAGREB, May 28, 2018 - The Croatian Order of Friars Minor Conventual said on Sunday that church proceedings against a member of the order from Split, suspected of paedophilia, were in the final stage, that the cleric had admitted his guilt and that he would be excommunicated.
The Večernji List daily previously reported that the investigation into the case started on February 6 and was completed after two months, while the suspect was suspended on 7 December 2017, immediately after he was reported.
The initial report against friar Gracijan Gašperov involved three potential victims and following its publication, two more victims spoke out.
Church officials said the investigation revealed that the friar had harassed two of the victims in order to obtain a sexual favour and had sex with another two, while in the case of one victim it was difficult to prove that a sex act had taken place, Večernji List said.
