Senate clears way for probe of Matteoli in MOSE case, update

(ANSA) - Rome, January 7 - The Senate committee on immunity cleared the way Wednesday for authorities to proceed against Forza Italia Senator Altero Matteoli as part of a probe into the MOSE flood-barriers project in Venice. Prosecutors are looking at allegations that 25 million euros in taxpayer money was funnelled into political campaigns and away from MOSE, a 5.5-billion-euro system of retractable dikes set to be operable in 2016 after decades of delays. Some 100 people were initially investigated as part of the probe.