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Vatican Appeal Trial Opens Into Financial Scandal - Vatican

The appeal trial concerning the management of Holy See funds over the London property deal begins at the Vatican Tribunal on September 22, 2025 at the Vatican. The initial trial ended with the conviction of ten defendants for crimes ranging from fraud to corruption, among others. The original trial opened in 2021 with its main focus on the London luxury property. Prosecutors alleged brokers and Vatican monsignors fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees and commissions to acquire the property, then extorted the Holy See for 15 million euros to cede control of it. The original investigation spawned two main tangents involving powerful Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, sentenced by the Vatican City court of first instance to five years and six months in prison. At the center is the purchase of a building in a fashionable district of London, a transaction which ended in a loss of at least 139 million euro. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican Appeal Trial Opens Into Financial Scandal - Vatican

The appeal trial concerning the management of Holy See funds over the London property deal begins at the Vatican Tribunal on September 22, 2025 at the Vatican. The initial trial ended with the conviction of ten defendants for crimes ranging from fraud to corruption, among others. The original trial opened in 2021 with its main focus on the London luxury property. Prosecutors alleged brokers and Vatican monsignors fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees and commissions to acquire the property, then extorted the Holy See for 15 million euros to cede control of it. The original investigation spawned two main tangents involving powerful Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, sentenced by the Vatican City court of first instance to five years and six months in prison. At the center is the purchase of a building in a fashionable district of London, a transaction which ended in a loss of at least 139 million euro. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican Appeal Trial Opens Into Financial Scandal - Vatican

The appeal trial concerning the management of Holy See funds over the London property deal begins at the Vatican Tribunal on September 22, 2025 at the Vatican. The initial trial ended with the conviction of ten defendants for crimes ranging from fraud to corruption, among others. The original trial opened in 2021 with its main focus on the London luxury property. Prosecutors alleged brokers and Vatican monsignors fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees and commissions to acquire the property, then extorted the Holy See for 15 million euros to cede control of it. The original investigation spawned two main tangents involving powerful Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, sentenced by the Vatican City court of first instance to five years and six months in prison. At the center is the purchase of a building in a fashionable district of London, a transaction which ended in a loss of at least 139 million euro. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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House Of Representatives Election - Japan

Japan's Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba places a pin above the name of a candidate at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 27, 2024. Voting for Japan's lower house election began on Sunday morning amid public discontent over the ruling LDP's slush funds scandal and a rising cost of living that squeezes Japanese households. Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Pool via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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House Of Representatives Election - Japan

Japan's Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba (4th L) poses for a photo with other members of the LDP at the LDP's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 27, 2024. Voting for Japan's lower house election began on Sunday morning amid public discontent over the ruling LDP's slush funds scandal and a rising cost of living that squeezes Japanese households. Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Pool via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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House Of Representatives Election - Japan

Japan's Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba (R) and former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi place a pin on a board showing candidates' names at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 27, 2024. Voting for Japan's lower house election began on Sunday morning amid public discontent over the ruling LDP's slush funds scandal and a rising cost of living that squeezes Japanese households. Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Pool via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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House Of Representatives Election - Japan

Japan's Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba places a pin above the name of a candidate at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 27, 2024. Voting for Japan's lower house election began on Sunday morning amid public discontent over the ruling LDP's slush funds scandal and a rising cost of living that squeezes Japanese households. Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Pool via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Political funds reform bill in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on June 6, 2024, after the House of Representatives passed a bill to revise the political funds control law following a fundraising scandal centered around the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Political funds reform bill in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on June 6, 2024, after the House of Representatives passed a bill to revise the political funds control law following a fundraising scandal centered around the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Political funds reform bill in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida bows after the House of Representatives passed a bill during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 6, 2024, to revise the political funds control law following a fundraising scandal centered around the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Political funds reform bill in Japan

The Japanese House of Representatives passes a bill during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 6, 2024, to revise the political funds control law following a fundraising scandal centered around the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Japan PM Kishida

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologizes over a political funds scandal involving his ruling Liberal Democratic Party members during a political reform meeting in the southwestern Japan city of Kumamoto on April 6, 2024. The meeting was held by a local branch of the party in the wake of the scandal.

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Japan PM Kishida

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a political reform meeting in the southwestern Japan city of Kumamoto on April 6, 2024. The meeting was held by a local branch of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the wake of a political funds scandal involving LDP members.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

TOKYO, Japan, April 4 Kyodo - Toshimitsu Motegi (C), secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets the press at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party. (Kyodo)

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 party members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 party members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets the press at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 party members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Former education minister Ryu Shionoya (back, C) meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Shionoya was advised to leave the party, the second-severest penalty among the party's eight levels of punitive steps following expulsion.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Hiroshige Seko, former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general in the House of Councillors, meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Seko was advised to leave the party, the second-severest penalty among the party's eight levels of punitive steps following expulsion.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Former education minister Ryu Shionoya meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Shionoya was advised to leave the party, the second-severest penalty among the party's eight levels of punitive steps following expulsion.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Former education minister Ryu Shionoya meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Shionoya was advised to leave the party, the second-severest penalty among the party's eight levels of punitive steps following expulsion.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Former Japanese trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Nishimura's party membership was suspended for one year.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Hiroshige Seko, former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general in the House of Councillors, meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Seko was advised to leave the party, the second-severest penalty among the party's eight levels of punitive steps following expulsion.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Former Japanese trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura meets the press in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Nishimura's party membership was suspended for one year.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Hiroshige Seko, former Liberal Democratic Party secretary general in the House of Councillors, bows during a press conference in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the ruling party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal. Seko was advised to leave the party, the second-severest penalty among the party's eight levels of punitive steps following expulsion.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Toshimitsu Motegi (L), secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets the press at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Toshimitsu Motegi (C), secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets the press at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets the press at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP punishes 39 members over funds scandal

Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets the press at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on April 4, 2024, after the party's disciplinary committee announced punishments for 39 members over a political funds scandal, including urging two heavyweights to leave the party.

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LDP eyes punishing members over scandal, leaves out Kishida

TOKYO, Japan, April 1 Kyodo -The Liberal Democratic Party said Monday it will pursue punishment for 39 members over a political funds scandal that has rattled the ruling party since late last year, notably excluding Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and party heavyweight Toshihiro Nikai who has decided not to seek reelection as a lawmaker.The LDP has come under intense scrutiny since some of its factions, including the largest one formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, were found to have neglected to report portions of fundraising party revenue for years, with hundreds of millions of yen passed back to members.(Kyodo)

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

TOKYO, Japan, March 25 Kyodo - Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, attends a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction. (Kyodo)

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, attends a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai (front), a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, bows at the end of a press conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, bows during a press conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, holds a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, holds a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, holds a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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LDP heavyweight Nikai at press conference

Toshihiro Nikai, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight, holds a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on March 25, 2024. The former LDP secretary general said he will not run in the next general election, following a political funds scandal that engulfed his intraparty faction.

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Japan parliament ethics panel on funds scandal

Former education minister Hakubun Shimomura speaks during a session of the House of Representatives ethics committee in Tokyo on March 18, 2024, about a political funds scandal that has rocked Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Japan parliament ethics panel on funds scandal

Former education minister Hakubun Shimomura speaks during a session of the House of Representatives ethics committee in Tokyo on March 18, 2024, about a political funds scandal that has rocked Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Japan parliament ethics panel on funds scandal

Former education minister Hakubun Shimomura speaks during a session of the House of Representatives ethics committee in Tokyo on March 18, 2024, about a political funds scandal that has rocked Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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