(supersedes previous)Oil
production in the southern Val d'Agri (Agri Valley) area has
been suspended, State-controlled ENI oil and gas giant said
Thursday after five of its staffers were arrested earlier in the
day on suspicion of illegal waste trafficking.
The Agri Valley lies in the southern Basilicata region, and
ENI plants there produce 75,000 barrels a day.
The company added it is cooperating with the investigation
and said it will request assets seized earlier in the day be
made available to it.
Also on Thursday, a judge turned down a prosecution request
for a bench warrant for Gianluca Gemelli, who manages two
oil-sector companies and is the boyfriend of Industry Minister
Federica Guidi.
Gemelli is being investigated for corruption conspiracy and
falsely claiming influence over a public official in order to
obtain bribes.
Wiretaps showed Thursday that Guidi discussed a government
amendment affecting the development of a Basilicata oil field
with Gemelli.
Straight after the tapped call with Guidi, Gemelli phoned
an associate to tell him about the favorable amendment. "I'm
phoning to give you some good news," Gemelli said during the
wiretapped call.
Calls for Guidi to step down over conflict of interest came
from both the left and the right, with Italian Left (SI) and the
Northern League (LN) clamoring for the minister to quit.
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