Corruption trial concludes in the Vatican

According to a report by the Vatican's official media outlet Vaticannews, the corruption trial, which had been ongoing for 2.5 years and involved 10 defendants and 4 companies regarding the embezzlement of millions of pounds in the purchase of a property in London's luxury Sloane Avenue neighborhood on behalf of the Vatican Secretariat of State in 2013, concluded today with the 86th hearing.

TRIAL CONCLUDED

In the verdict hearing held in the multi-purpose hall of the Vatican Museums, Presiding Judge Giuseppe Pignatone stated that Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who also served as the Substitute for General Affairs (Deputy Prime Minister) in the Vatican, was found guilty on three counts of embezzlement during the sale of the property in London. Pignatone announced that Becciu was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison, a lifetime ban from all public offices, and a fine of 8,000 euros. Other individuals tried alongside Becciu in the case were also given various prison terms and fines. Following the announcement of the verdict, one of Becciu's lawyers, Fabio Viglione, stated that they would appeal the decision, maintaining that their client is innocent.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

In an investigation launched in the Vatican in 2019, it was revealed that Becciu's name was involved in a scandal regarding the purchase of a property in London's expensive Sloane Avenue neighborhood using donations collected from Catholic believers during his tenure as the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State between 2011 and 2018. After Becciu left his post as Substitute for General Affairs in November 2018, it was reported in the press that the real estate deal made for the purchase of the building in London had caused the Vatican to suffer losses of millions of euros. Following the public emergence of the accusations against him, Cardinal Becciu resigned from his positions in the Vatican on September 24, 2020, and also renounced his rights as a cardinal. Media outlets close to the Vatican commented that Becciu had been forced to resign from his posts. The first hearing of the corruption trial in which Becciu was tried was held in July 2021.

Vatican Promoter of Justice Alessandro Diddi had requested a 7-year and 3-month prison sentence, a 10,329 euro fine, and a ban from public office for Cardinal Becciu, who served as the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State between 2011 and 2018 and whose name was involved in this scandal, in July 2023 on charges of embezzlement and abuse of office.