'Vatileaks' convict begins serving 18-month sentence

Catholic Culture
August 29, 2016

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=29201

Msgr. Lucio Vallejo Balda, the former Vatican official who was convicted in the "Vatileaks II" trial, has been taken into custody to begin serving an 18-month prison sentence.

Msgr. Vallejo Balda, who had admitted passing confidential Vatican documents to Italian journalists, was convicted by a Vatican tribunal on July 7. The court's sentence took effect on August 29.

Francesca Chaouqui, who was also found guilty of conspiracy in the Vatican trial, was given a suspended sentence and will not serve prison time. Three other defendants were cleared of charges. 

Msgr. Vallejo Balda is being detained-- at least for now-- in a Vatican holding cell. Vatican officials could make arrangements with Italian authorities to transfer him to an Italian jail. His sentence could be shortened, of course, by a pardon from Pope Francis.