Catholic Bishop, priests, divert N221m tithes, offerings in Brazil
A Catholic Bishop in Brazil has been arrested for allegedly stealing $608,000 (N221m) from church coffers.
Jose Ribeiro, the Bishop of Formosa, is accused of stealing the sum in connivance with other clergymen.
Police discovered a false wall in the home of one of the priests, and recovered a sum of £19,200 in plastic bags hidden in a secret storage space.
Police allege that the money was stolen over a three-year period.
The money is believed to be part of tithes, donations, fundraising events and also from fees collected for ceremonies such as baptisms and weddings.
Large amounts of cash in foreign currencies were found.
Ribeiro is suspected to be the leader of the scheme by which the funds were diverted from church coffers.
The group were heard revealing over phone conversation recordings that the money laundered was being used to secure the purchase of a cattle ranch, a lottery agency, phones, luxury cars, designer watches and gold chains.
The investigation into the Formosa Diocese accounts began last year after members of the congregation alleged irregularities and misuse of assets by the Catholic Church.
