a cardinal sentenced to five and a half years in jail for monetary fraud | EUROtoday
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JJudged with 9 different individuals for fraud, a high-ranking Italian cardinal was sentenced this Saturday, in first occasion, to 5 and a half years in jail by the Vatican felony court docket. This judgment comes on the finish of a trial surrounding monetary operations of the Holy See. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, a former shut adviser to Pope Francis, is probably the most senior Catholic Church official to seem earlier than the Vatican felony court docket, the city-state’s civil justice system.
The cardinal was additionally fined 8,000 euros. The Vatican prosecutor’s workplace had requested a sentence of seven years and three months in jail towards the person of the Church in addition to a positive of greater than 10,000 euros. “We respect the verdict but we will certainly file an appeal,” reacted Me Fabio Vignone, Angelo Becciu’s lawyer.READ ALSO Pope’s go to: 5 factors to recollect from Francis’ journey to MarseilleAt the guts of the trial: the acquisition for 350 million euros of a luxurious constructing in London between 2014 and 2018 as a part of the funding actions of the Holy See, whose actual property belongings are appreciable. This sprawling affair has reignited the talk on the opacity of the funds of the Holy See, whereas Pope Francis has sought to wash up its operations since his election in 2013. He has additionally reformed the judicial system in order that bishops and cardinals will be judged by lay individuals and now not solely by their non secular friends.
Resigned in September 2020
The promoter of justice (prosecutor, editor’s be aware) Alessandro Diddi requested sentences starting from practically 4 years to greater than 13 years in jail, along with monetary sanctions, towards the ten defendants who seem for fraud, embezzlement , abuse of energy, cash laundering, corruption and extortion. Former quantity two within the Secretariat of State, the primary physique of the central authorities of the Holy See on the coronary heart of this transaction, Bishop Becciu retains his title of cardinal however was dismissed from all his capabilities in September 2020.
Over the course of 85 hearings on this prolonged trial often known as “the London building”, the debates revealed the opacity of sure monetary operations of the Holy See. The president of the Vatican tribunal, Giuseppe Pignatone, highlighted “the complexity” of this trial on Saturday earlier than the magistrates retired to the council chamber. Among the highlights, the revelations regarding a phone dialog between Angelo Becciu, at his initiative, with the Pope and recorded with out his data, shortly earlier than the beginning of the trial, wherein he requested him to substantiate having authorized confidential monetary actions.
The instruction had described an “almost inextricable” imbroglio of speculative funding funds with leverage, banks, credit score establishments, pure and authorized individuals. This acquisition at an inflated value highlighted the reckless use of St. Peter’s Pence, the big annual assortment of donations meant for the pope’s charitable actions. It additionally generated substantial losses within the Vatican’s funds.
5,000 suspicious accounts
The Vatican lastly resold the 17,000 sq. meter constructing situated within the very stylish Chelsea district, at the price of a heavy loss, estimated between 140 and 190 million euros. The affair dealt a critical blow to the repute of the Church and of Pope Francis, who has multiplied reforms to wash up the funds of the Holy See and struggle towards fraud. In addition to the creation of a secretariat for the Economy in 2014, the Argentine sovereign pontiff supervised the investments and actions of the Vatican Bank, particularly via the closure of 5,000 suspicious accounts.
https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/vatican-un-cardinal-condamne-a-5-ans-et-demi-de-prison-pour-fraude-16-12-2023-2547332_23.php#xtor=RSS-221