Fifteen people including
the director and an official of the Agrigento tax office in
Sicily were arrested Thursday in connection with a probe into
tax procedures there.
Director Pietro Pasquale Leto and official Vincenzo
Tascarella are among the suspects being investigated on various
charges including corruption, aggravated fraud against the
state, abuse of office and absenteeism.
In total, 8 of the suspects worked at the Agriugento tax
office, prosecutors said.
Seven have been placed under house arrest and four in
pre-trial prison detention, while two must sign in daily with
police and two have been banned temporarily from the medical
profession.
The investigation centers on the disclosure of information
concerning past or future tax inspections and the unjustified
cancellation of tax procedures and several departments are
implicated.
In a statement the Sicilian tax authority said it "firmly
condemned all dishonest conduct and severely punishes those
responsible".
It also said it is pursuing disciplinary measures.
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