Mayor of Italy's poorest town arrested for fraud

(ANSA) - Vibo Valentia, February 3 - The mayor of Italy's poorest municipality was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of aggravated fraud. Romano Loielo, the 43-year-old mayor of Nardodipace in the southern Calabria region and a finance police corporal on leave of absence for several years, was placed under house arrest in relation to an alleged fraud amounting to 100,000 euros of European Union, State and regional funds. The 38-year-old son of a local 'Ndrangheta mafia boss and two local businessmen were also placed under house arrest on the same charges. In addition 12 people including a local councillor and his wife and the mayor's wife were issued with orders to present themselves to the judicial police in connection with the alleged crime. The suspects are alleged to have appropriated funds destined for training courses to create jobs. A town of 1,200 people in the Serre Vibonesi mountains, Nardodipace has the lowest per capita income in the country. Loielo was first elected mayor of the town in 2007 but his administration was dissolved for suspected mafia infiltration in 2011.
    He was subsequently able to run in and won subsequent elections in 2013.