New development in Vatileaks trial: defendant's husband handled computer server

May 17, 2016

The Vatican tribunal for the "Vatileaks II" criminal trial heard testimony on May 16 that the husband of defendant Francesca Chaouqui set up the computer server from which secret documents were taken.

Corrado Lanino, Chaouqui's husband, had access to the documents that were stored on the computer by the special papal commission studying Vatican financial affairs. Msgr. Lucio Vallejo Balda, who has admitted leaking confidential documents, also had access to password-protected documents. In a strange twist, the computer server was physically located in the barracks of the Swiss Guard, rather than in the commission's own offices-- apparently because of security concerns.

Gianluca Guazzi, the commissioner of the Vatican gendarmerie, told the court about information that had been discovered on cell phones and laptop computers that were seized by Vatican investigators. He said that Msgr. Vallejo Balda had sent numerous confidential documents to Gianluigi Nuzzi, one of two journalists who wrote books on the basis of the leaks. Nuzzi continued to press for other secret documents, the witness testified.

Another witness confirmed earlier testimony that Msgr. Vallejo Balda became increasingly impatient with the commission's staff, and that the atmosphere at the commission's offices had been "not a peaceful one."

 

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Further information:

• Furthur details on Vatileaks II" (Vatican Radio)
• Information on the trial for dissemination of reserved information and documents (Vatican press office)