Vatican computer technician Claudio Sciarpelletti has been sentenced to two months in prison by the Vatican court for his role in the theft of confidential papal documents in the so-called Vatileaks case, reports the Catholic News Agency.
The court found Sciarpelletti, 48, guilty on Saturday of aiding and abetting former butler to the Pope, Paolo Gabriele, in his theft of sensitive documents.
Sciarpelletti was originally sentenced to four months in prison, but his sentence was reduced due to extenuating circumstances.
His sentence comes as part of the Vatican’s investigation into the theft of personal and confidential documents belonging to Pope Benedict XVI which were then leaked to a journalist who published them in a best-selling book.
Gabriele was given an 18-month prison sentence, which he will serve inside the Vatican.
Sciarpelletti was arrested for a short time in May after his lawyer said an anonymous tip led to the search of his desk. An envelope was found addressed to Gabriele containing copies of documents that had been leaked to the Italian media.
Gianluca Benedetti, who represented Sciarpelletti in the case, had argued in court that his client was in an “emotional state” when he gave confused and contradictory testimony to investigators, leading to the charges levelled against him.
FULL STORY Vatican computer technician convicted in Vatileaks trial (CNA)