Alfio Marchini probed (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, November 18 - Rome prosecutors are investigating businessman and former center-right Rome mayoral candidate Alfio Marchini and 22 others, sources said Friday.
    Finance police earlier searched the premises of 13 companies - and the homes of their managers and executives - all of which are linked to Marchini's Methorios Capital SpA financial consultancy company. Charges in the operation code-named 'Checkmate' could include criminal association and falsifying company books. Investigators say the suspects engaged in dodgy financial transactions worth significant amounts of money at Banca Popolare di Vincenza and Banca Popolare dell'Etruria e del Lazio. Marchini, who initially ran as an independent, was backed by former premier and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi in the June 2016 local election that saw Virginia Raggi from the populist, euroskeptic 5-Star Movement become Rome's first woman mayor.