In Italy, urban corruption is currently unraveling. It all started with an affair when a public asset was given to a private investor. Familiar right?
Here's how they handle this case.
Italy's financial police are dealing with major real estate projects that have reshaped Milan over the past three years. That's why she searched the offices and homes of the suspects in the City Hall, and requested the arrest of six people.
More than 70 people are under investigation, including the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, Giancarlo Tancredi, the head of Milan's urban renewal department - he is under investigation on suspicion of corruption, false statements and illegal incitement. He resigned from his post to focus on the defense, denying any wrongdoing.
Then, Manfredi Catello, founder and CEO of real estate company Coima, which is behind several of the city's biggest projects, was ordered under house arrest.
Stefano Boeri, the architect known for the design of the "Vertical Forest" towers, is also under investigation, although no detention measures have been taken against him. Boeri is already facing special proceedings for alleged tender-rigging and unauthorized construction. And Giuseppe Marinoni, the former president of the Commission for Landscape, is the expert.
In addition to major projects of the last three years, tender-rigging and false declaration related to the European Library of Information and Culture (BEIC) project, as well as violations of zoning regulations in the Bosconavigli project, a large residential and commercial complex, are also being investigated.
The Prosecutor's Office claims that there is a "dizzying cycle of corruption that affects institutions and undermines all public control over land use."
Mayor Giuseppe Sala denies any abuse. He announced that he would not resign, claiming that "everything he did was in the best interest of the city" and that his "hands were clean."
The six suspects are expected to appear before a judge who will decide on detention measures.
And in Serbia, the Government is changing laws so that it can turn a public asset into a private one - for example, the General Staff.
Source: Corriere dellasera
