Carabinieri police on Monday
arrested five people and placed 13 more under investigation on
suspicion of bid-rigging and other crimes in connection with
lucrative public reconstruction contracts in the aftermath of a
2009 earthquake that destroyed much of the capital of Abruzzo.
Among the key suspects in the probe is former center-right
councillor Pierluigi Tancredi, who currently serves as an
official at the local health department.
Prosecutors say he faces extortion charges for allegedly
trying to obtain hush money in exchange for his silence on
corrupt dealings in post-quake contracts.
The suspects include businessmen, former politicians and
civil servants.
The arrests were made in L'Aquila, Chieti, Teramo, and the
island of Ponza.
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