Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI) CEO
Roberto Tomasi is under investigation in a probe into allegedly
dangerous sound-absorbing panels installed on the Italian
motorway system, La Repubblica and Il Secolo XIX dailies
reported Friday.
ASPI isssued a statement saying Tomasi had no competence on the
soundproofing barriers but was "part of the major works
committee that presented other projects".
The committee reportedly decided to buy around 30 million panels
which prosecutors say turned out to be dangerous.
For this reason, prosecutor Walter Cotugno informed all the
members of the group they were under investigation at the end of
last year.
ASPI has just been given temporary control over a new Genoa
bridge replacing one that collapsed in August 2018 killing 43
people.
But Premier Giuseppe Conte has said that ASPI, part of
Benetton-controlled group Atlantia, will see all its motorway
concessions stripped unless it comes up "with a new proposal
ensuring the public interest" by Sunday.
Senior government partner the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement
(M5S) is adamant that ASPI, and by extension the Benettons, must
be ejected from the motorway management business after the
August 15, 2018 Genoa bridge disaster.
The new bridge there, designed by Genoa native and starchitect
Renzo Piano, has been built in record time.
It features 'sails' reflecting the northwestern port city's rich
maritime heritage.
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