Investigators alleged Monday that
a businessman at the centre of a massive public-works graft
probe boasted of having "a mountain of works" worth 25 billion
euros over 15 years including Rome and Milan metro expansions.
In July 2014, businessman Stefano Perotti - one of two top
suspects in the probe - referred to the long list of major
contracts in which he was involved, investigators said.
At the end of January, Perotti was "engaged in directing
work" on at least 10 major projects, investigators added.
Those allegedly included the new Metro C line in Rome, two
sections of the Milan subway system and high-speed rail projects
in Reggio Calabria, officials said.
The broad investigation, which led to four arrests earlier
in the day and includes some 50 people, allegedly includes an
ex-infrastructure ministry manager and engineering consultant
Ercole Incalza.
He was defended by Infrastructure and Transport Minister
Maurizio Lupi who said Incalza "was and is one of the top
technical figures (Italy) has as regards national and
international engineering experience, recognised at all levels".
Lupi's son Luca was named in the probe as allegedly having
got a job from Perotti.
Luca Lupi is reportedly not under investigation.
Carabinieri investigators said Monday that politicians were
also among those under investigation although sources said these
were not well-known public figures.
The "articulated corruption network" uncovered by the
probe had targeted lucrative contracts for the controversial TAV
high-speed rail link between Lyon and Turin, as well as other
projects - including Milan Expo 2015, judicial sources said.
Investigators believe bribes were paid to officials to
influence the awarding of public contracts and other potential
charges relate to obstructing proper public administration.
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