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Ex-Vatican Prelate Convicted of Corruption in Smuggling Case

by Associated Press

   ROME --

   Italian news agency ANSA says a monsignor who had worked years as a
   Vatican accountant has been convicted of corruption in connection with
   a failed cash-smuggling plot

   Italian news agency ANSA says a monsignor who had worked as a senior
   Vatican accountant has been convicted of corruption in connection with
   a failed cash-smuggling plot.

   ANSA said a Rome appeals court Wednesday convicted the Rev. Nunzio
   Scarano of corruption and sentenced him to three years in prison.

   In 2016, a lower court had acquitted Scarano, who had worked for years
   at a Vatican office that handled Holy See investments. Italian
   prosecutors in 2013 accused him of plotting to smuggle 20 million euros
   ($26 million) into Italy from Switzerland aboard an Italian government
   plane.

   Scarano's lawyer has said friends asked the monsignor to help them
   recover funds given to a broker to invest. But the alleged scheme never
   was realized, purportedly when the broker reneged on the arrangement.