A judge on Thursday adjourned the trial of two officials from the Vatican's paediatric hospital who are accused of expropriating over 422,000 euros of funds after new documents were deposited with the court.
Judge Paolo Papanti-Pelletier set new hearings for 19, 21 and 22 September in the trial of former Bambin Gesu hospital president Giuseppe Profiti and ex-treasurer Massimo Spina. They are accused of embezzling the hospital donations to refurbish the 300 square metre apartment of the Vatican's retired second-in-command, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
The trial was adjourned after the head of the Bambin Gesu hospital, Mariella Enoc, is said to have deposited documentary evidence on Wednesday with the court.
Both the prosecution and two defence teams requested time to study the new evidence before proceeding.
Enoc and the head of the Vatican's Authority for Financial Information watchdog, Tommaso di Ruzza, had been due to give evidence at Thursday's hearing as witnesses in the case.
The defence has requested that Enoc and di Ruzza be compelled to give evidence in court.
Prosecutors accuse Profiti and Spina of illicitly paying the Bambin Gesu foundation funds to Gianantonio Bandera, owner of a now-bankrupt building company.
Profiti and Spina deny wrongdoing, as they claim that Bertone's newly refurbished apartment was to be used to host fund-raising events and one of the foundation's main purposes is to raise money for the Bambin Gesu hospital.
The defendants face charges of between three to five years in prison and fines upwards of 5,000 euros if they are found guilty of embezzling the hospital donations.
When the scandal broke in 2015, Bertone made a 150,000 euro 'gift' to the hospital for research and claimed he was unaware the foundation had paid for the renovation of his flat, work on which Bertone also spent 300,000 euros of his own money.
Bertone is a longtime friend of Profiti and Bandera, making many observers question how the prelate could have been in the dark, and how Profiti and Spina were charged with a financial crime but Bertone left untouched when the funds were spent on his property.
Bertone has not been investigated by police or prosecutors or charged with any offence. He’s also not presently expected to appear as a witness in the case.
