(FOX 5/KUSI) — A Chaldean Catholic bishop pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Monday after being arrested at San Diego International Airport while reportedly trying to leave the country.

Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta, who leads Chaldean Catholics in the western United States, is accused of embezzling church funds and has been under investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office and the Vatican.

The investigation was first reported by The Pillar, an online Catholic media outlet, which said that church documents show more than $420,000 that was allegedly appropriated by Shaleta.

The outlet’s investigation reportedly showed that a church property was rented out, but the rent payments were made in cash directly to Shaleta, who then signed off on using a church bank account that contained money to help the poor to make the missing rent payments.

The Vatican’s investigation also reportedly found that the bishop regularly visited a brothel in Tijuana.

Shaleta reportedly submitted a letter of resignation from his diocesan post in January, although the Vatican has not accepted it.

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/el-cajon/chaldean-bishop-arraignment-san-diego/