Alleged Vatican-Australia money transfer being investigated by police

Information relating to the alleged transfer of funds to Australia to influence Cardinal George Pell’s trial has been handed to police.

Australia’s financial crime regulator has shared information with police about an alleged transfer of money from the Vatican to Australia to influence Cardinal George Pell’s child sex abuse trial.

Cardinal Pell was in May acquitted of all charges by the High Court.

At a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells revealed she had written to AUSTRAC about the alleged transfer of 700,000 euros ($1.1 million) in Vatican funds to “person or persons in Australia”.

AUSTRAC chief executive Nicole Rose told the hearing the matter had been investigated.

“I can confirm that AUSTRAC has looked into the matter. We have provided information to the Australian Federal Police and to Victoria Police,” Ms Rose said.

AUSTRAC CEO Nicole Rose has spoken about the matter involving the transfer of funds from the Vatican. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The Australian Federal Police says it is reviewing the information received from AUSTRAC and has referred some aspects of it to Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).

“The AFP can confirm it received information from AUSTRAC on this matter. This is part of a routine exchange of financial intelligence between AUSTRAC and the AFP,” it said in a statement late on Wednesday.

“The AFP is undertaking a review of the relevant information.”

An IBAC spokesperson said it was unable to comment.

“For legal and operational reasons we are unable to comment on this matter,” they said.

Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo said he was not aware if his department had been contacted by Cardinal Pell’s legal team about a probe.

“It would not in the ordinary course be something we would be approached about,” Mr Pezzullo said, adding he would check.

The questioning follows Cardinal Pell’s barrister calling for an international investigation into claims Cardinal Pell’s bitter Vatican rival, Giovanni Angelo Becciu, authorised bribes for witnesses to give evidence against Cardinal Pell at the trial.

Robert Richter QC said the alleged $1.1 million money trail between Rome and Australia was there to be investigated.

The now demoted Cardinal Becciu has denied the allegations.

Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said the original allegations against Cardinal Pell ‘first surfaced in the Italian media from Vatican sources’. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Senator Fierravanti-Wells said the government would help if the matter went beyond the AFP and Victorian authorities.

“Given the recent demotion of senior Vatican figures … clearly from the Australian government’s perspective we will co-operate with in any way shape or form we are asked to,” she said.