Prosecution requests trial for culture undersecretary

(ANSA) - Cagliari, April 23 - Prosecutors on Thursday requested that culture undersecretary Francesca Barracciu of Premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic party (PD) be sent to trial on charges of aggravated embezzlement while she was a Sardinia regional councillor, local media reported Thursday. The request will be examined by a preliminary hearings judge on June 24. Barracciu is accused of embezzling 78,000 euros from funds allocated to the institutional activities of political groups in the regional council from 2004 to 2009. She is one of over 70 suspects implicated in a broader probe into misappropriation of public funds within the regional council.
    A further 20 former councillors have already been sent to trial.