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Friday, May 25, 2012

Lord’s Banker ousted: Vatican Bank chief fired in corruption row — RT

Lord’s Banker ousted: Vatican Bank chief fired in corruption row — RT: The Vatican Bank chief has been dismissed for reportedly leaking documents amid accusations of money laundering. The move comes as the Holy See, embroiled in a chain of financial scandals, is trying to deal with claims of corruption and fraud.

The president of the Vatican Bank Ettore Gotti Tedeschi has been ousted after receiving a unanimous vote of no-confidence from bank overseers.

The economist, who presided over the institution since 2009, is under investigation by Italian magistrates for alleged money laundering.

Gotti Tedeschi is seen as having failed to clean up the image of the bank, perceived as a symbol of the opacity and corruption scandal gripping the Pope’s kingdom.

“The board passed a unanimous no-confidence vote against the president… and believes the action is important to maintain the vitality" of the bank, the Vatican said.

The ex-chief declined to comment on his dismissal. He told journalists: "I'd rather say nothing, otherwise I'd say ugly things."

However in remarks to Reuters, he said: "I have paid for my transparency."

In 2010 Italian police launched an investigation against Tedeschi as part of a money-laundering inquiry, and the Vatican said then it was "perplexed and astonished", expressing full confidence in him.

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