In a turn of events, the Vatican's former right-hand man, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison due to his involvement in embezzlement scandals, including fraudulent activities related to a kidnapped cleric in Mali and the Vatican's costly £350 million London property acquisition.
Despite being rumored as a contender for the papacy himself, Becciu lost Pope Francis' favor in September 2020 following the financial scandal and was stripped of his cardinal privileges. The controversial court case against him included allegations of embezzlement, misuse of power, corruption, and other financial wrongdoings.
Nine other individuals were also involved in the trial, each facing their own charges, ranging from embezzlement to abuse of office and corruption. Public prosecutor Alessandro Diddi demanded seven years and three months in prison for Becciu, along with hefty fines for other defendants.
During the trial, it was revealed that Becciu covertly recorded a telephone conversation with Pope Francis in an attempt to exonerate himself from the embezzlement allegations. In addition to his prison sentence, Becciu was fined €8,000 as part of his punishment.
The Vatican's handling of financial matters, as exemplified by the Becciu case, has raised concerns and sparked international interest, particularly regarding the £350 million London property purchase.
Enrichment Insights:
- Becciu's Conviction and Appeal:
- Cardinal Angelo Becciu was found guilty by the Vatican's civil court for embezzlement and financial misconduct. His conviction has been appealed, suspending his imprisonment until the legal process is over.
- The London Property Controversy:
- The purchase of a luxurious London property, known as the London building, costing €350 million, was central to the Becciu trial. There were allegations of misuse of funds and opaque transactions.
- Gianluigi Torzi's Role:
- Italian banker Gianluigi Torzi acted as an intermediary in the London building purchase. He was interrogated and temporarily imprisoned by the Vatican court in 2020.
- Misuse of Charitable Funds:
- The indictment against Becciu's brother, Antonio Becciu, and Bishop Corrado Melis of Ozieri, claimed that they misappropriated funds from a charitable organization in Sardinia, contributing to the broader misuse of charitable funds in the case.
- Potential Serving of Sentence in Italy:
- If Becciu's appeal is unsuccessful, he might potentially serve his sentence in an Italian prison, instead of Vatican detention facilities, due to stipulations in the Lateran Treaty.
References: [1] BBC News, “Vatican's Becciu charged with embezzlement and abuse of office,” last modified October 14, 2021, . [3] The Guardian, “Cardinal Angelo Becciu arrested in Vatican embezzlement probe,” last modified June 6, 2020, .
