Cardinal Angelo Pequi was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for embezzlement

Italian Cardinal Angelo Pesiu Sentenced today He was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in jail for financial misappropriationAs the Vatican Tribunal declared, it also condemned Eight other defendants in the caseEspecially financial agents and middlemen.

Bechiu, 75, and the first cardinal to be tried by the Vatican’s criminal court, has also been convicted. “Permanent” disqualification from office As announced by the President of the Court, in the Holy See, Giuseppe PignatoneWhile reading the sentence.

Cardinal must pay a 8,000 euro fine.

Over the past two and a half years, the process has been studied Buying a building in central London Organized by the Vatican Secretariat of State when Peque was alternate for public affairs (2011-2018). A speculative move that left a hole in the Holy See’s accounts worth at least 139 million euros.

The Promoter of Justice, or the Vatican prosecutor, demanded a prison sentence of 7 years and 3 months for the cardinal.

In this case, a total of ten defendants, Fabrizio Trabaci was also convictedAdministrative office employee of the Vatican Secretariat of State, 7 and a half years in prison.

On the other hand, these punishments also fell on financial brokers and intermediaries of real estate activity, accused of profiteering and fraud for the Holy See.

Enrico Craso He was sentenced to 7 years in prison and fined 10,000 euros; Rafael Mincione up to 5 and a half years; Nicola Squillace Imprisonment for one year and ten months; And Gianluigi Dorsi All of them are barred from holding public office for 6 years and nine months.

Cardinal’s Secretary, Mauro CarlinoOnly one of the ten defendants was acquitted in the process.

Businessman Cecilia MarognaBecciu’s advisor and presented as a diplomatic expert in Vatican circles, has been sentenced to 3 years and nine months in prison and has been “temporarily” banned from holding public office.

When the scandal erupted Buying a building in Sloane Avenue, in the heart of LondonThe former headquarters of Harrods Galleries in an exclusive Chelsea neighbourhood.

The charge pointed out that the building was spent on the Holy Congregation 350 million euros But it was later sold by the Vatican for £186 million (approx 214 million Euros)

But, moreover, that acquisition was used To blackmail the Vatican and demonstrates the lack of transparency and irregularities in the accounts of the Holy See.

In addition, other financial crimes allegedly committed by Pesue were uncovered during this process 125,000 euros in donations The cardinal entered the account of an association that was linked to Ozieri’s Sardinian Caritas, which at the time was headed by one of his brothers.

Like him Cecilia Marogna was paid €575,000Also accused was a woman who was hired to pose as an expert in diplomatic affairs and secret services and allegedly helped the Holy See free a Colombian nun kidnapped in Mali.

(with information from EFE)