Cardinal Giordano, 72, stood trial in 2000, accused of taking part in a loan-sharking ring, AP said. Prosecutors had alleged that he supplied about $800,000 to finance the ring run by his brother and had appropriated another $500,000 in Church funds.
He was acquitted in December 2000 of both charges. In Italy, prosecutors can appeal acquittals. Wednesday, the appeals court in Potenza upheld the lower court’s acquittal, attorney Enrico Tuccillo said.
