VATICAN CITY, Nov. 6, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The trial of computer programmer Claudio Sciarpelletti commenced on Monday in the Vatican.
The trial comes weeks after Pope Benedict XVI’s former butler, Paolo Gabriele, who was found guilty of stealing confidential documents, receiving 18 months in prison. 48 year old Sciarpelletti, who was employed by the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, is accused of aiding and abetting in connection with the theft. He faces up to one year in prison.
Monday’s hearing focused on technical questions. Another hearing, which will take place Saturday, November 10th, will hear testimonies from the accused and witnesses. Among those set to testify are Sciarpelletti’s superior in the Secretariat of State, Monsignor Carlo Polvani, deputy commander of the Swiss Guards Major William Kloter, commander of the Vatican police force Domenico Giani, and one other Vatican security official.
Sciarpelleti was arrested on May 25, two days following Gabriele’s arrest. Vatican police found a closed envelope containing confidential documents on his desk addressed to Gabriele and marked «personal.»
