The Rome Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation into alleged corruption and the disclosure of official secrets concerning the ambitious Strait of Messina Bridge project. The probe involves three individuals, one of whom is a former deputy president of the Court of Auditors, who retired in February.
Investigation Targets Influence Peddling
According to a statement released by the judicial office, the Carabinieri del Ros were tasked with executing a search warrant against the three individuals. These include the aforementioned former Court of Auditors official, an attorney who previously served on the board of directors of “Stretto di Messina Spa,” and an entrepreneur.
The investigation has documented the actions of the three suspects, which were allegedly aimed at influencing the Court of Auditors’ legitimacy review of the final project approval for the public works. The allegations suggest an attempt to manipulate the oversight process for the massive infrastructure project.
The Accusations Unveiled
The Rome Prosecutor’s Office’s statement details the accusations, claiming that the attorney and the entrepreneur, “in order to influence the aforementioned examination by the Court of Auditors in favor of the company ‘Stretto di Messina Spa,’ allegedly approached the accounting judge, promising him their support for positions in public law entities after his retirement, contingent on his active role in realizing the cited need.”
Furthermore, the prosecution’s case posits that the two individuals “also attempted to approach other magistrates deemed useful to the group’s interests for the realization of the infrastructural work and revealed, to third parties, information covered by secrecy, acquired from the investigated Court of Auditors judge.” The judge, for his part, allegedly “offered – the statement reads – his availability, providing constant updates on the progress of the procedure conducted by the Accounting Court, revealing confidential information on the opinions of his fellow accounting magistrates and on the development of the relevant plenary session of the Court itself.”
Seizures and Future Evaluations
The accounting magistrate is also accused of having “examined the unfavorable decision of October 29, 2025, committing to prepare, in the interest of ‘Stretto di Messina Spa,’ a memorandum on the matter to be delivered to the company’s accountant, manifesting, in return, an interest in becoming president of the Antitrust Authority or of a state-owned company.”
During the searches, which took place in Rome, the province of Reggio Calabria, and the province of Frosinone, “various electronic devices and documents were found and seized. These will be subjected to specific evaluations and analyses to ascertain their probative value in relation to the alleged crimes.” The investigation is ongoing, and the seized evidence will play a crucial role in determining the validity of the corruption claims.
The Strait of Messina Bridge project, a long-debated and ambitious undertaking, now faces significant scrutiny due to these serious allegations, potentially impacting its future development and public perception.
Source: https://www.giornaledibrescia.it/cronaca/ponte-sullo-stretto-indagine-corruzione-procura-roma-v6o66viv
