Testimony began today in the kickback trial of a former top-ranking layman in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.Defendant Joseph H-Smith was portrayed by the prosecutor in Cleveland federal court as a manipulator who got $785,000 in kickbacks from outside accountants doing church bookkeeping.
But the defense says any payments were legal and part of a pattern of secret church finances.
Smith's co-defendant was convicted of similar charges last year and is awaiting sentencing.
The diocese says it was unaware of any irregularities and was a victim of the alleged scheme.
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