Victoria’s anti-corruption body won’t investigate claims $1m Vatican funds used in Pell case
Anti-corruption body needs ‘additional credible information’ money was transferred to influence George Pell trial.
Victoria‘s anti-corruption body will not investigate claims Vatican funds were transferred to Australia to influence the trial against Cardinal George Pell, stating it needs additional credible information.
Cardinal Pell was convicted in December 2018 of sexually abusing two choirboys from St Patrick‘s Cathedral when he served as Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996.
The conviction was ultimately overturned by the High Court.
Italian newspapers reported disgraced Vatican Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, a staunch opponent of Cardinal Pell’s financial reforms, was suspected of paying more than $2m over four transfers to an unnamed account in Australia to prejudice the case against Cardinal Pell.
The transfers occurred between February 2017 and June 2018, covering the period from when Victorian police were preparing briefs for charges against the cardinal up to the committal hearing and the two trials on the charges.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission today confirmed it had received information based on media reports about the allegations.
“IBAC has reviewed the information and found the threshold to commence inquiries or an investigation was not met,” the statement said.
“This matter would only be further considered if any additional, credible information is received relevant to IBAC’s jurisdiction.”
The statement said media reports provided to IBAC without further substance were unlikely, in most cases, to be sufficient to initiate an investigation.
Financial crimes regulator Austrac passed information about the allegations to Victoria and the Australian Federal Police in October.
Victoria Police at the time also said it would not be conducting any further investigation.
“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.“
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