Paul KeenanA Franciscan priest has gone on trial in the town of Split charged with defrauding the Church of €1.3 million through an illegal sale of property. Fr Sime Nimac is accused of working with a bank employee, Jasna Bilonic, allegedly his lover, in creating a scheme by which funds gained from the illicit sale of Church land was transferred from the parish account to his own.
Both Fr Nimac and Bilonic have denied the charges and face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.