VATICAN CITY (AP) — Vatican City State’s criminal court has sentenced Cardinal Angelo Becciu to five years and six months in prison on two counts of embezzlement and one of aggravated fraud. However, the cardinal was found not guilty of abuse of office or witness tampering, according to his attorney, Fabio Veglione, who stated that his client plans to appeal the verdict.

Five other individuals also received jail sentences ranging from three to seven years as a result of the court’s decision. The verdicts were announced late on December 16, with pending appeals allowing those sentenced to remain out of custody. The trial focused on the Vatican’s investment in a property in London’s Chelsea district, resulting in significant financial losses for the Vatican.

The court found that Cardinal Becciu and others were guilty of embezzlement for taking a substantial amount of money from the Secretariat of State’s investment fund and investing it in a highly speculative and risky venture. Additionally, the cardinal was accused of using Vatican funds for personal projects and giving money to an individual claiming to secure the release of a kidnapped nun. Several others involved in the scandal were also charged and found guilty of various crimes, resulting in the confiscation of significant financial assets and hefty fines.

The lengthy trial, lasting over two and a half years, involved an extensive amount of testimony and evidence. Overall, the Vatican tribunal handed down significant consequences for those implicated in the financial scandal, with the guilty parties facing imprisonment and financial repercussions.

In the end, the Vatican court ruled on the culpability of 10 individuals and four companies, demonstrating a commitment to holding those involved accountable for their actions. The verdicts marked the conclusion of a complex and protracted legal process, serving as a reminder of the repercussions for financial misconduct within the Vatican.