Victoria Police makes call about investigating claims of big money transfers from the Vatican
The national financial system watchdog released its findings over claims foreign payments from the Vatican to Australia may have been used to interfere with the prosecution of Cardinal George Pell.
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Victoria Police says it has received no indication of suspicious activity related to big money transfers from the Vatican to Australia.
A statement from the force has confirmed it will not launch an investigation after the findings from Austrac, the national financial system watchdog, which were sparked by claims the foreign payments may have been used to interfere with the prosecution of Cardinal George Pell.
“They (Austrac) have not advised Victoria Police of any suspicious activity related to these transactions,” the statement said.
“In the absence of any other evidence or intelligence Victoria Police has noted the advice from Austrac. We are not at this time conducting any further investigation.”
Victoria’s anti-corruption body, IBAC, is to be provided with financial records of the Vatican transfer of funds to review.
An IBAC spokesperson said the body could not comment on the matter.
The Austrac examination related to $1.1 million moved from the Vatican to Australia.
Supporters of Cardinal George Pell have argued authorities needed to investigate whether the money was used to pay a witness against him in a high-profile child-sex prosecution.
Cardinal Pell was earlier this year freed on appeal by the High Court, which found there was a significant possibility that an innocent person was convicted.
There have been unsubstantiated murmerings for years that big money was used to ensure damaging testimony against Pell over alleged sex assaults of two altar boys in 1996 and 1997.
The 78-year-old suggested his work as the Vatican’s head of Secretariat of the Economy - in which he was directed by Pope Francis to unravel years of financial corruption within the church - was central to him being accused of historical offences.
Since, there have been efforts to track financial records linked to his accuser.
Inquiries have been made into a property his accuser, known as Witness J, bought in the period Cardinal Pell was charged.
Witness J has issued a statement through his lawyer, Dr Vivian Waller, about the allegations of any payment.
‘’My client denies any knowledge or receipt of any payments. He won’t be commenting further in response to these allegations,’’ Dr Waller said.
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