Former justice minister Clemente
Mastella, a centrist Catholic, and his wife Sandra Lonardo were
ordered Thursday to stand trial with 17 others on charges of
conspiracy in a massive graft probe.
The pair were once one of southern Italy's most prominent
political couples.
According to the indictment, the activity of the small
centrist Catholic UDEUR political party, which had a power base
in Campania, was aimed at creating a web of corruption involving
public tenders for the purchase of goods and services by
regional offices including health administrations.
A trial date was set for June 18 in Naples.
The couple, who have consistently maintained their
innocence, were part of an extensive investigation in Campania
that included businessmen and regional officials.
Prosecutors had said the suspects had set up "a fully
fledged system with criminal intent which amounted to a
Mafia-style conspiracy".
Anyone who tried to get in their way was allegedly
subjected to "a systematic operation of demolition and
boycotting," the prosecutors claimed in 2009.
Mastella, who now represents Italy in the European
Parliament, resigned as justice minister in a related probe in
2008 and brought down Romano Prodi's centre-left government.
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