Civil protection official arrested for usury in Rome

(ANSA) - Rome, January 18 - An official from the Department of Civil Protection was arrested on Thursday on accusations of continued usury, attempted extortion and abusive use of financial activities.
    Carabinieri arrested the 59-year-old Rome resident for having allegedly granting loans at usurious rates of up to 40% to several shopkeepers in the upscale Prati area of the capital.
    He also allegedly used his civil protection office in Via Ulpiano as a "base", police said.