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6 hours agoIt's the Vatican. Cardinal close to Pope in court for misuse of 350m euros
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)A Catholic cardinal who was once very close to Pope Francis is being tried in the Vatican, after he is accused of misusing Church funds in a destructive London ownership company. The 73-year-old Cardinal, named Angelo Becciu, is the highest-ranking cleric in modern times to face a case of crimes [...]
The 73-year-old Cardinal, named Angelo Becciu, is the highest-ranking cleric in modern times to face a court case for alleged financial crimes.
He is accused of spending 350m euros in church money in a broken deal to buy a property in Chelsea that caused major losses, reports the BBC, translates Periscope.
Becciu has denied the charges.
The Cardinal was fired from the Pope in September after reporting on financial abuses was highlighted.
The two-year investigation had exposed how the Vatican had lost millions of euros, including donations from believers, after buying a warehouse in Sloane Avenue of Chelsea in 2014.
The cardinal was in charge of Donances in the secretariat that deals with Vatican foundations.
The charges against him include channeling money for businesses led by his brothers in his native Sardinia.
Nine other defendants are also charged with crimes such as extortion, illegal embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of official office.
The trial is expected to last several months. /Periscope
