Nicaragua Freezes Catholic Church Accounts Over Money Laundering Accusations

Nicaraguan police are investigating several dioceses of the Catholic Church for money laundering, and have frozen the bank accounts of parishes in the country. The government of President Daniel Ortega has intensified attacks against the Catholic Church since 2018 anti-government protests, accusing the bishops of attempting a coup. The police statement said the bank accounts were linked to religious figures convicted of treason and other crimes, and that the investigations confirmed the funds entered the country irregularly.