Australian Federal Police have been working with Vatican investigators over suspect transfers of more than $2 million to Australia. Source: The Australian.
Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See in Rome has been “monitoring” the Vatican investigations into money laundering, embezzlement, extortion and fraud within the Church, including sensational allegations of money transfers to Australia.
But the AFP has taken the lead role in investigating the claims of suspect transfers and has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) to refer any matters relating to the “potential criminal charges”.
The AFP has also used Australia’s embassy in the Rome to provide connections to Vatican investigators looking at a $363 million property scandal, global transfers of millions of Euros, money laundering and embezzlement.
The Vatican investigators have also been told of attempts to interfere in the sexual abuse prosecutions against Cardinal George Pell to deflect him from financial reforms and anti-corruption steps he was taking at the Vatican from 2014.
DFAT officials told NSW Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells in Senate Estimates yesterday that the embassy’s role at the Vatican was to monitor reports and “provide support for the AFP recognising the potential for a criminal matter”.
FULL STORY
AFP, Vatican investigators probe cash transfers (By Dennis Shanahan, The Australian)
