All posts tagged: Embezzlement

Pope accepts resignation of Chaldean leaders after US bishop faces felony charges

Pope accepts resignation of Chaldean leaders after US bishop faces felony charges

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta, the leader of Chaldean Catholics in the Western U.S., the Vatican announced Tuesday (March 10), after Shaleta was arrested at the San Diego International Airport on Thursday on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. The Chaldean church is one of 23 Eastern Rite churches that are in full communion with the Catholic Church and recognize the pope as their head. The Chaldean church, whose worship is conducted in Syriac, an Aramaic dialect, is based in Baghdad, but it has eparchies around the world. Shaleta headed the Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, which covers much of the western United States. The Vatican’s announcement on Tuesday said Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation in February but hadn’t made a formal announcement then. It also clarified that Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop will be apostolic administrator until a new bishop is appointed. After Shaleta’s arrest on Thursday, he spent four nights in jail before pleading not guilty to 15 felony counts on Monday. A local …

Prosecution argues embezzlement was ‘directed by the party head’

Prosecution argues embezzlement was ‘directed by the party head’

Published by Sam Flores

Marine Le Pen, during her appeal trial for embezzlement over suspected fake jobs at the European Parliament, at a Paris appeals court, on February 3, 2026. SERGIO AQUINDO FOR LE MONDE The prosecution’s closing argument pulled no punches, but the sentences requested on Tuesday, February 3, at Marine Le Pen’s appeal trial for embezzlement over suspected fake jobs at the European Parliament, were a little lighter than those handed down by the court after the initial trial, on March 31, 2025. The two prosecutors making the case refrained from requesting that the court’s sentences be immediately enforced even if appealed, except in special cases. Additionally, all of the requested prison sentences could be served under house arrest, with an electronic monitoring tag. For Le Pen, the prosecution requested a four-year prison sentence, with three suspended (compared with just two years suspended, in the initial ruling), a €100,000 fine, and a five-year ban on running for public office. The appeals court, which is expected to deliver its decision “before the summer,” is under no obligation to follow …

France’s Le Pen insists party acted in ‘good faith’ at EU embezzlement appeal

France’s Le Pen insists party acted in ‘good faith’ at EU embezzlement appeal

Published by Sam Flores

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen told an appeals trial on Wednesday that her party acted in “good faith”, denying an effort to embezzle European Parliament funds as she fights to keep her 2027 presidential bid alive. A French court last year barred Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate from the far-right National Rally (RN), from running for office for five years over a fake jobs scam at the European institution. It found her, along with 24 former European Parliament lawmakers, assistants and accountants as well as the party itself, guilty of operating a “system” from 2004 to 2016 using European Parliament funds to employ party staff in France.  Le Pen and others ​were found guilty of misappropriating more than €4 million of EU funds.  Le Pen admits “negligence” in EU fund embezzlement appeal trial To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to …

Influencer MEP Fidias to address embezzlement allegations – POLITICO

Influencer MEP Fidias to address embezzlement allegations – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The lawmaker said he has not been officially notified of the EPPO investigation and will “of course, release a video addressing each accusation in detail.” Panayiotou, who is widely known by his first name, Fidias, was voted into the European Parliament in 2024 as an independent lawmaker. Panayiotou documents his life as a politician in YouTube videos aiming to explain the inner workings of EU institutions. His videos have been praised by tech mogul and X-owner Elon Musk. EPPO “does not comment on ongoing investigations, nor do we publicly confirm which cases we are working on,” a spokesperson said. “This is in order not to endanger the possible ongoing procedures and their outcome.” The Luxembourg-based EPPO is tasked with rooting out criminal abuse of EU money. Cyprus’ anti-corruption authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Source link