Vatican Freezes Scarano's Assets

The Tablet UK
July 15, 2013

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/5499

Vatican City's chief prosecutor has frozen two bank accounts at the Vatican bank of a senior priest who was arrested as part of an investigation into fraud at the Holy See's finances.

Mgr Nunzio Scarano was the director of the accounting analysis service at the Vatican's financial administration, Apsa (the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See).

He was arrested in June following allegations that he had tried to move €20m (£17m) illegally from Switzerland into Italy.

The Vatican bank, officially called the Institute of Religious Works (IOR), is currently undergoing an external review after being hit by multiple allegations of fraud and money laundering. Two of the bank's senior managers resigned last month.

The Holy See press office said the freezing of Mgr Scaranzo's accounts was serious about applying "zero tolerance for any activity, whether conducted by laity or clergy, that is illegal or outside" its statutes.