Vatican monsignor plots to smuggle €20m, held in Queen of Heaven prison
Published:Friday | July 12, 2013 | 10:30 AM
VATICAN CITY (AP):
The Vatican has seized the assets of a monsignor who was arrested in a plot to smuggle €20 million (US$26 million) into Italy.
The Vatican's chief prosecutor on July 9 froze the accounts at the Vatican bank of Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, who was arrested by Italian authorities June 28 on accusations of corruption and slander.
Scarano allegedly plotted to bring €20 million into Italy from Switzerland in July of last year aboard a private jet to avoid declaring it at customs.
Prosecutors say the money was believed to have belonged to friends of Scarano, members of the d'Amico shipping family.
Scarano has reportedly told prosecutors he stood to gain €2.5 million in commission for the operation.
A judge has refused to grant him house arrest; he remains at Rome's Queen of Heaven prison.
In a statement Friday, the Vatican said its own investigation into Scarano was triggered by several reports of suspicious transactions filed with the Vatican's financial watchdog agency.
It said its probe "could be extended to additional individuals."
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