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16. 03. 10. - 14:00

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16. 03. 10. - 14:00

Monks dirty habit

Michael Leidig

A fugitive believed to have committed suicide after dozens of witnesses watched him jump to a watery grave has been found alive hiding as a monk in a monastery.

The 68-year-old Austrian man had apparently hurled himself to his death from a ferry boat off the Croatian coast to avoid charges that he sexually abused his daughter.

But the scheming pervert had arranged for a speedboat to discreetly pick him up from the water and deliver him safe and sound to the coast where he began a new life as a novice monk at Pupping Monastery.

A monastery official said: "He said he was interested in the faith and wanted to join us. He worked as a gardener.

"We did not ask him where he came from. Our doors are open for everyone – for friend and foe. But we never thought he had such a background.

"He cycled to the shops in the neighbouring town every day, but most of the time just bought cigarettes."

Now the monk - whose true identity was revealed when traffic cops pulled him over to check his bike - is to be returned to Austrian authorities over paedophile allegations.

The monastery last hit the headlines when Father Fritz Wenigwieser replaced the stairs with a fireman's pole so priests could get to prayers more quickly.

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