The mayor of the Calabrian
town of Riace, Domenico Lucano, is under investigation for
alleged abuse of office, corruption and aggravated fraud, the
local press reported on Friday.
Lucano is well known for his executive's welcoming stance
towards migrants.
The probe is linked to management of public money for the
migrant-reception system, sources said.
Fernando Antonio Capone, president of the "Città Futura-don
Pino Puglisi" association, is also under investigation.
On Thursday finance police seized documents from the town
hall and notified Lucano of the investigation, the sources said.
Earlier this year Lucano was awarded the prestigious Dresden
Peace Prize for his work to receive and integrate hundreds of
refugees into his small municipality.
Riace, which has been dubbed the 'Village of Welcome', is a
unique project of togetherness between Italians and refugees, a
press release said.
For 18 years, large numbers of migrants have been taken in
and integrated by means of accommodation, employment and
language courses.
Some 550 of the current 1,800 people living in the town
arrived there as refugees.
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