'Oil gang' case transferred to Rome (2)

(ANSA) - Potenza, June 30 - Cassation Court prosecutors on Thursday transferred two lines of inquiry in an ongoing oil corruption case to the Rome city prosecutor's office. A third part of the probe, concerning alleged environmental crimes committed by ENI and Total oil companies in the southern Basilicata region, will remain in the hands of Potenza prosecutors. Today's decision upheld an appeal by defendant Nicola Collicchi, who is accused of racketeering as part of a so-called "oil gang" led by oil businessman Gianluca Gemelli, who is being investigated for corruption conspiracy and influence-peddling.
    Gemelli is the boyfriend of former industry minister Federica Guidi, who stepped down earlier this year after a wiretapped conversation surfaced in which she discussed with him a government measure that favored his business.
    It also means Collicchi's co-defendants' cases will also be transferred to Rome, including that of former Navy chief of staff, Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi.
    The supreme court prosecutor's decision will likely become effective next week.