Companies that supply the
Petruzzelli theatre in Bari paid bribes to its director at least
eight times in less than two months, the chief prosecutor in the
southern Italian city said on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe told a news conference that
overall the theatre's director Vito Longo was paid 20,000 euros
in bribes related to supplier contracts between October 29 and
December 4 last year.
"Investigations are still underway, it's a short period but
we decided to intervene straight away because we could not allow
more crimes to be committed," Volpe told the news conference.
The investigation has led to the arrest of five people for
crimes including corruption. It focuses on three contracts for
theatre lighting supplies and cleaning services which
prosecutors say were awarded in exchange for money and other
benefits.
Volpe said he had decided to share videos that show Longo
receiving the envelopes filled with money from company
executives because they are effective footage and could serve as
deterrents.
The probe was launched after another business executive
complained to police about news articles discussing potential
irregularities in theatre contracts, which he viewed as
defamatory.
Wiretaps and video footage in Longo's office then led
police to make the arrests.
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