Cardinal Becciu’s Historic Vatican Fraud Trial Nears Verdict After Over Two Years
The Vatican's 'trial of the century,' a Pandora's box of unintended revelations, explained (yahoo.com)
The Vatican fraud trial involving a prominent Italian cardinal and a complex London property deal concluded on Tuesday after a span of more than two years, with a verdict anticipated on Saturday. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, 75, a former advisor to Pope Francis, made history as the highest-ranking Catholic Church official to face a Vatican court when proceedings commenced in July 2021. Facing accusations of embezzlement, fraud, abuse of power, extortion, money laundering, and corruption, Becciu, among 10 defendants, consistently asserted his innocence. Vatican prosecutor Alessandro Diddi called for a seven-year and three-month prison sentence for Becciu if found guilty, while seeking a cumulative sentence of over 73 years for all defendants, along with fines. fnntoday.com.ng