Belgian prosecutors probing
alleged corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo said
Tuesday that two top Italian businessmen arrested in Brussels in
connection with the investigation may have been the instigators
of around one million euros in bribes for gambling contracts
there.
Antonio Gozzi, president of steel-producer association
Federacciai and CEO of Duferco, and Massimo Croci, a senior
official with Duferco, denied all involvement in the matter.
"They have never been to Congo or met Congolese politicians
or public officials or other people from that country able to
influence the issue of administrative acts," they said.
Belgian prosecutors suspect Gozzi and Croci of being behind
the episodes of alleged corruption involving the former Vallonia
regional finance minister Serge Kubla, who has worked as a
consultant for Duferco since 2009.
Kubla is alleged to have handed around a million euros in
bribes to government officials including the ex Congolese
premier Adolphe Muzito to facilitate business in the former
Belgian colony, Belgian media said.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA