Probe reveals 30 million euros skimmed from Calabrian towns
Collection company accused of pocketing local taxes
13 December, 13:06
Investigators said local taxes that should have gone to 50 municipalities in Calabria instead went to pad the pockets of administrators of the company So.ge.fi.I Riscossione SpA (So.ge.fi.I Collections), a company that collects the IMU property tax and the Tares rubbish and city services tax on behalf of municipalities.
Of dozens that used the company's services over the 2005-2012 period, the town worst hit by the fraud was Nicotera, population 6,500, which lost 8.5 million euros, investigators said. Other towns allegedly saw 1.5-4.5 million skimmed from their coffers.
The finance police are still investigating what role public administrators may have had in permitting the loss of public funds.