Biancifiori arrested in TV contracts corruption probe

(ANSA) - Rome, December 14 - Finance police on Monday arrested three people including businessman David Biancifiori in relation to a probe into television contracts in Rome. A close aide and a member of the finance police corps were also arrested.
    The suspects face charges of criminal association for a range of tax crimes including false invoicing, fraudulent declarations and corruption. In total over 40 people are implicated in the probe including executives and managers at state broadcaster RAI, companies belonging to the rival Mediaset group, Italy's seventh national channel La7 and international sports marketing company Infront. Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset group said in June it has suspended employees named in the corruption probe into alleged bribes for contracts to stage TV events in Italy.
    The investigation into audio-visual events companies led by Biancifiori, nicknamed Scarface, concerns allegations labour and service contracts were granted in exchange for money or jobs.