Follow-up: Greek Catholic priest acquitted of assault

(cbc.ca) - A Winnipeg priest has been found not guilty of sexual assault and kidnapping in Hawaii.

Ukrainian Catholic priest Bohdan Borowec, 56, had been on vacation in Honolulu when the alleged incident occurred Feb. 13.

According to his lawyer Shawn Luiz, Borowec was acquitted on all charges in a Honolulu court on Monday.

"He was found not guilty," said Luiz, adding Borowec had been released on bail since his arrest in February. "He is now free to return home," said the lawyer.

Borowec, who was born in Poland, was ordained Dec. 16, 1984, in Winnipeg and was most recently the administrator at Holy Ghost Church on Ada Street in Winnipeg's Brooklands neighbourhood, as well as at Christ the King Church on Fountain Street in the Centennial neighbourhood.

Borowec was accused of hugging a woman at an East Oahu church and repeatedly kissing her.

But Luiz said the court found Borowec was falsely accused. He said the defence argued the claims were made by someone who was trying to obtain compensation from the church.