Minister's boyfriend implicated

(supersedes previous)(ANSA) - Potenza, March 31 - Oil production in the southern Val d'Agri (Agri Valley) area has been suspended, State-controlled ENI oil and gas giant said Thursday after five of its staffers were arrested earlier in the day on suspicion of illegal waste trafficking. The Agri Valley lies in the southern Basilicata region, and ENI plants there produce 75,000 barrels a day. The company added it is cooperating with the investigation and said it will request assets seized earlier in the day be made available to it. Also on Thursday, a judge turned down a prosecution request for a bench warrant for Gianluca Gemelli, who manages two oil-sector companies and is the boyfriend of Industry Minister Federica Guidi. Gemelli is being investigated for corruption conspiracy and falsely claiming influence over a public official in order to obtain bribes.
    Wiretaps showed Thursday that Guidi discussed a government amendment affecting the development of a Basilicata oil field with Gemelli. Straight after the tapped call with Guidi, Gemelli phoned an associate to tell him about the favorable amendment. "I'm phoning to give you some good news," Gemelli said during the wiretapped call.
    Calls for Guidi to step down over conflict of interest came from both the left and the right, with Italian Left (SI) and the Northern League (LN) clamoring for the minister to quit.