A Greek Orthodox priest from Sydney has been found guilty of sexually touching a number of women, The Greek Herald can reveal.
Father Mario “George” Fayjloun was connected to the Central Mangrove Greek Orthodox congregation, and was charged in September 2021 with nine counts of aggravated sexual touching. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in December 2021.
Father Fayjloun’s case was before Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday, June 25 where Magistrate Gareth Christofi found the Greek Orthodox priest guilty of all nine charges against him.
According to court documents, the incidents allegedly occurred at the Greek Orthodox church in Central Mangrove and at a home in Bankstown between August 2019 and February 2020.
Father Fayjloun allegedly made home visits to a parishioner’s family, when he made unwanted sexual advances towards the mother and two of her children. The priest denies the allegations and claims the sexual touching between him and the mother was consensual. His defence argued the daughters “fabricated allegations” to protect their mother.
Following the Magistrate’s guilty verdict, Father Fayjloun will be sentenced in August 2024. He remains on conditional bail.
