Lawyer: Leak of sex claims against Italian official is 'sham
Reports that an Italian government official accused of economic corruption allegedly utilized a Vatican choir singer to arrange gay liaisons for him are shameful, the official's lawyer told CNN Saturday.
Angelo Balducci is appealing a judge's decision to keep him in prison more than allegations of monetary corruption,
monster beats Justbeats headphones, stated his lawyer, Franco Coppi.Police say they learned from the alleged gay liaisons whilst wiretapping Balducci as part of an investigation into how public-works contracts were awarded.His lawyer says he is innocent in the corruption charges, and declined to comment on the sex scandal.
We are talking about items that are personal and private. I can not make any comment and I don't want to make any comment, Coppi stated. It really is shameful that private matters are published, matters that have absolutely nothing to do using the charges.
It is curious to find out how these private matters wind up within the press.
Balducci oversaw the Italian government's awarding of construction contracts, such as work on the airport at Perugia. He also served within the unpaid role of papal usher.Italian authorities say they recorded conversations between Balducci and Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, a 39-year-old Nigerian singer. They had been recorded among April 14, 2008, and January 20, 2010.In addition to operating for the government, Balducci served as a gentleman of His Holiness, also known as a papal usher or Vatican gentleman. The main responsibility of the ceremonial position is usually to welcome heads of state towards the Vatican and escort them to determine the pope.Balducci is one of 3 public officials who, along with a businessman, have been jailed on charges related to corruption in the public works department. The public officials are alleged to have awarded contracts to businessmen who offered them favors, income, sex, and/or residence remodeling in exchange. The suspects,
Dr Dre beats headphones, who deny the charges, are in cautionary custody though they've not been charged or indicted.The Italian news media have nicknamed the scandal grande opere,
cheap beats by dre studio Purple, which translates as big works.
The transcripts from the wiretaps were produced public on Wednesday and widely disseminated within the media.Ehiem told the Italian weekly magazine Panorama in an interview published Friday that he provided Balducci with males from Italy and abroad, which includes rugby players, actors, models and seminarians.
Ehiem also told Panorama that he arranged for Balducci to meet escorts at Ehiem's home when the government official was in Rome and in Paris, France; Naples, Italy; along with other cities when he was traveling. For Balducci, a 26- or 27-year-old man was too young, Ehiem told the magazine. He preferred older males, above 40 years old. Based on the wiretap transcripts, in a conversation dated April 22,
monster beats Solo headphones, 2008, Ehiem says, I named you ... since you can find ... in case you are cost-free ... three or 4 circumstances that could be excellent ... really, very good ... Balducci: ...Hmmm! Ehiem: Two black, Cuban males ... really tall, tall, tall ... so ... if you're free ... we are able to try and organize straight away ... that is, I saw both of them, Angelo ... think me that ... they could be two superb choices.
In one more conversation, dated August 21, 2008, Ehiem says: Look, if you want I can have them come 1 right after the other ... it's feasible ... for those who have some totally free time ... I can arrange for the two of them. Balducci: Which are the better ones? Ehiem: The much better ones are the ones I just told you about ... one from Bologna along with the other one from Rome. Balducci: All right, then let's do it for three:30. Ehiem: OK. Ehiem stated an escort friend introduced him for the Italian businessman more than a decade ago. He asked me to complete it with him, but I like girls and just the believed grossed me out, Ehiem mentioned. He asked me if I could procure him other guys. He told me that he was married and that it had to become performed in fantastic secrecy.
I told him that there was the world wide web. But he asked me to take care of it due to the fact he couldn't do it from his property. He added, Often he would ask for two meetings every day.
Ehiem told Panorama he was attempting to support his family members in Nigeria, and that Balducci at times paid him 50 or 100 euros, but never more than 1,000 to 1,500 per year. Neither Balducci nor his attorney has commented on Ehiem's interview with Panorama.A Vatican source who asked not to be identified stated Ehiem had been dismissed from his choir duties.
Asked about Balducci, the source said, It is apparent that, whilst in prison, he can't workout his duties as a papal gentleman. But,
Monster Beats headphones, the source noted, Balducci has not been convicted of any charge. If he is convicted, then we will appear into it, the source mentioned.