Health contracts, the Public Prosecutor's Office calls for the arrest of former Governor Cuffaro
House arrest is also requested for Noi Moderati deputy Saverio Romano. For all 18 suspects in the investigation, the charges contested by the Public Prosecutor's Office are corruption, criminal conspiracy and bid rigging
The Palermo Public Prosecutor's Office, headed by Maurizio de Lucia, has requested the arrest under house arrest of former governor Totò Cuffaro, currently national secretary of the Christian Democratic Party, and of Noi Moderati deputy Saverio Romano. The investigation, coordinated by the Ros Carabinieri, concerns alleged episodes of corruption in a series of contracts in the Sicilian health sector. In the coming days, Cuffaro and Romano, whose offices and homes were searched by the police, will be interrogated before the Gip before a possible custodial order.
Cuffaro: 'Maximum cooperation' with investigators
'The searches,' reads the press release issued by the Palermo Public Prosecutor's Office, 'were ordered in order to avoid the dispersal of evidence following the discovery of the investigation imposed by the notification of the invitation to the so-called preventive interrogation following the request for precautionary measures against the suspects.
"This morning they served me with a notice of guarantee and carried out searches in my home and office. I have given the Carabinieri my utmost cooperation and I am calm, with respect to the facts that have been contested against me, for some of which I know neither the events nor the people. I am confident in the work of the investigating bodies and ready to clarify my position," declared Totò Cuffaro, national secretary of the DC.
"I learn from the press of a request from the Palermo public prosecutor's office that would concern me: I know nothing about it and I have not received any communication. In any case, I am absolutely calm and available, ready to clarify any doubts of the magistrates, of whom I have the utmost esteem and consideration". So said Mr Romano, on hearing of the request for arrest as part of the investigation into alleged rigged tenders
Cuffaro's secretary and a DC deputy are also under investigation
In addition to the secretary of the new Christian Democracy, Totò Cuffaro, and the former Forza Italia member of parliament, now deputy of Noi Moderati, Saverio Romano, in the Palermo public prosecutor's investigation into the intertwining of politics and business in the Sicilian health system there are sixteen other suspects. For all of them, for various reasons, the charges contested by the public prosecutor are corruption, criminal conspiracy, and bid-rigging.
