The Italian Senate on Thursday
refused a request from prosecutors in Trani for permission to
use wiretaps allegedly involving Senator Antonio Azzollini of
the New Centre Right (NCD) political party.
Azzollini was placed under investigation more than one year
ago in connection with a public works project in southern Italy.
That 150-million euro probe concerns a marina and
breakwater project in Molfetta, a coastal town north of Bari,
prosecutors have said.
The prosecutor's office in Trani has been investigating how
147 million euros in public funds - 82 million of which were
from city coffers - were channeled into a project to build a
port that has proved to be unfeasible, and whose original cost
estimate was 72 million euros.
Public bids for building the breakwater and new commercial
marina was set for April 2007 with project delivery in March
2008, but work never began due to thousands of unexploded war
explosives on the seabed.
Prosecutors believe the Molfetta municipality knew of the
ordinances as far back as 2005, yet falsely declared the seabed
accessible during the public bidding process.
Investigators allege the municipality covered up the
hazards of the project to move the public bid forward to channel
and receive new public funds.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
