Corruption: arrest warrant sought for the former vice-president of the Sicilian Regional Government
The magistrates, led by Public Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia, have requested precautionary measures against a further eight people
The Palermo Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested the arrest of the former vice-president and former regional councillor of the Sicilian Region, the lawyer Gaetano Armao, husband of Minister Nordio’s former chief of staff, Giusi Bartolozzi. The lawyer’s offices in Palermo and Rome, as well as his home, have been searched, according to the investigating authorities. Prosecutors suspect the offence of corruption. In addition to Armao, the magistrates, led by Public Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia, have requested precautionary measures against eight other individuals. They are: Giuseppe Argirò, Benedetta Costanzo, Giuseppe Lombardo, Mario Lupo, Marco Malacarne, Pietro Luigi Matta, Sergio Vella and Luigi Zancla.
Bribery in connection with an act contrary to official duties and in the course of official duties: these are the offences under investigation in the case that led the Mobile Squad today to carry out a raid designed to prevent the tampering of evidence following the service of notices of preliminary questioning pursuant to Article 291 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Armao, a well-known Sicilian lawyer and politician, served as chair of the specialist technical committee for regional environmental authorisations until August. As required by law, given the suspect’s profession as a lawyer, a magistrate from the Public Prosecutor’s Office is present during the searches, which also involve a number of regional offices. The Bar Council has been informed of the investigation. The nine individuals involved have been served with a summons to appear before the investigating magistrate for a preliminary hearing, a procedure which, under the new legislation, precedes the judge’s ruling on the application for precautionary measures.
