The Vatopedi Monastery scandal has sent shock waves through society as a whole. According to the information that has become available so far, the state appears to have transferred extremely valuable property to the monastery in exchange for property whose ownership is disputed and which is, essentially, worthless.

After Supreme Court prosecutor Giorgos Sanidas ordered an investigation earlier this week, justice will certainly be looking into whether property belonging to the state had been undervalued.

Greek taxpayers have every right to feel outraged. When they are being asked to pay additional taxes because the government is unable to secure the necessary revenues, they cannot help but wonder why a handful of politicians decided to give away property that could have been used instead to bolster state coffers.

Apart from the judicial investigation into the matter, the government must also consider its legal options for having these transactions annulled if it wants to win back the public’s respect.