Former cardinal Angelo Becciu is
under investigation in the case of Cecilia Marogna, a
39-year-old Sardinian manager and consultant he allegedly paid
large sums of money to, newsweekly L'Espresso said Wednesday,
citing Vatican sources.
Vatican prosecutors reportedly accuse Becciu, 72,former No 2 at
the Secretariat of State, of paying Marogna large amounts of
money and failing to see how the funds were used.
Becciu, also from Sardinia, has failed to report to Vatican
prosecutors to clear up his position, L'Espresso added.
Milan prosecutors on Wednesday came out against a suit from
Marogna's lawyers for her to be released. The court has five
days to decide.
Becciu was forced to quit from the
Vatican department in charge of sainthoods last month in
relation to accusations of misappropriation.
Marogna is in Milan's San Vittore prison after being arrested in
the city earlier this month under an international warrant
issued by the Vatican.
On October 15 A Milan court upheld her arrest saying she should
stay in jail because of the
"gravity" of the accusations, given that she is suspected of
"appropriating Holy See funds assigned to institutional ends".
It also said there was a danger she might take flight.
Vatican investigators are said be looking at 500,000 euros in
bank transfers that were, in theory, for humanitarian aid but
the money was allegedly spent on bags, cosmetics and various
luxury goods.
A hearing kicking off the process to extradite Marogna took
place on October 17.
It is the first time Milan courts have overseen an extradition
to the Vatican.
Sources said Milan prosecutors are in favour of the extradition,
although the process is not expected to be quick.
The Financial Times reported on September 29 that the Vatican
invested another £100 million in London properties while
Cardinal Angelo Becciu was the Substitute of its Secretariat of
State in addition to a controversial 350-million-euro investment
in a building in Chelsea in 2014
that is at the centre of an investigation.
Becciu has said he was not ousted in relation to the London
operation but for alleged misappropriation regarding the use of
Church money in Sardinia and for allegedly favouring activities
run by his brothers.
He said he is innocent.
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