Vatican drops extradition request for Italian ‘intelligence expert’ accused of embezzlement

The Vatican accuses Cecilia Marogna of embezzlement

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The Vatican on Monday dropped its request for the extradition of an Italian “intelligence expert” who is accused of spending Holy See money on luxury handbags instead of freeing Catholic clergy held as hostages overseas.

But it insisted that the trial of Cecilia Marogna, a Sardinian who claims to have close ties with the Italian secret services, would go ahead nonetheless.

The abrupt decision will save the Vatican the potential embarrassment of an Italian court ruling against the extradition on the basis that the defendant might not get a fair trial in the tiny city state.

There is no extradition treaty between Italy and the Vatican and the case could have exposed Italian misgivings about the transparency of Vatican justice.

The case was due to have been discussed by a court in Milan on Monday, until the Vatican abruptly announced that it would no longer request that Ms Marogna be extradited and then incarcerated pending her trial.

In a statement, the Vatican said it hoped that Ms Marogna would “participate in the trial” which is due to start soon. But as a foreign state, it cannot compel her to turn up.

Ms Marogna is accused of spending money given to her by a friendly cardinal on designer shoes, handbags and other luxury items from Prada and Chanel.

Cardinal Becciu was compelled by the Pope to resign last year

Credit: ANDREAS SOLARO /AFP

She has admitted to receiving around €500,000 euros over four years from Cardinal Angelo Becciu, a senior figure in the Vatican hierarchy.

She has claimed she used the money to carry out “humanitarian operations” on behalf of the Holy See and to help pay for the release of nuns and priests kidnapped by terrorist groups.

She has admitted to buying at least one handbag with Vatican funds, but said it was a gift “for the wife of a Nigerian friend who was able to put me in touch with the president of Burkina Faso.”

She was arrested in Milan in October on a warrant issued by the Vatican via Interpol.

Her mentor, Cardinal Becciu, is also in trouble. He was forced to resign in September after Pope Francis accused him of misappropriation of funds.

The cardinal is accused of losing the Vatican millions of euros in a €350 million property deal in London, in which the Holy See bought a former Harrods showroom in Chelsea with the intention of turning it into luxury flats. He has denied any wrongdoing.