(ANSA) - Milan, February 16 - Lorena Lidia Pagani, the
"co-habiting companion" of Northern League Lombardy regional
councillor Fabio Rizzi "acted as a frontman for the recipt of
kickbacks on his behalf," a preliminary investigations judge who
signed an arrest warrant against the pair on Tuesday wrote.
Pagani and Rizzi were arrested in relation to a probe into
alleged corruption in the outsourcing of hospital dentistry
services in the northern region.
Silvia Bonfiglio, "co-habiting companion" of Rizzi's
staffer Mario Longo, also allegedly performed a similar role,
"issuing invoices for non-existent consultancies to Servicedent
and assuming the role of partner and sole administrator of
Spectre srl, a company linked to Longo and Rizzi," according to
the judge.
In total 21 people were arrested or otherwise cautioned on
Tuesday in a probe into allegedly illegally won contracts worth
over 400 million euros.
The scandal has led to calls for Lombardy Governor Roberto
Maroni to resign.
Rizzi's wife 'front' for bribes in Lombardy graft probe
Wife of staffer Longo also allegedly performed similar role