Bribes hidden in panettone and illegal labour practices on the Naples–Bari high-speed rail project: arrests and seizures

The Naples Gdf has served 20 personal precautionary measures (of which ten people have been placed under house arrest) against businesspeople and public officials as part of the investigation into the construction of the Naples–Bari high-speed railway line. Corruption, illegal hiring practices and the issuing of invoices for non-existent transactions are the offences alleged.– Bari. The offences alleged include corruption, illegal labour recruitment and the issuing of invoices for non-existent transactions.

A network of corrupt dealings between businesspeople and public officials has been uncovered, which helped companies secure contracts and carry out works. In return for these favours, they received money, luxury watches, mobile phones and holidays.

During the investigation, non-EU nationals – mainly of Egyptian origin – were also identified; they were being employed illegally and exploited on building sites, working shifts of up to 20 hours, with rest periods repeatedly violated, wages lower than those stipulated in contracts, health and safety conditions deemed inadequate, and precarious accommodation. According to the findings set out in the order issued by the investigating magistrate of Naples, Federica Girardi, a man formally employed by a company based in Portico di Caserta—which was engaged in construction work and services but actually operated as a labour broker—ran the system for recruiting, employing and exploiting workers of Egyptian origin.

An intercepted conversation mentions ‘shifts of 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20 hours’ with no public holidays, and workers sleeping in shacks even in August. ‘It’s as if he had prisoners,’ says one of the suspects, referring to the intermediary who manages the workforce. The investigations have also uncovered a scheme involving the transfer of around 300,000 euros to Egypt by the intermediary, intended for property investments.

At the request of Public Prosecutor Henry John Woodcoc, the investigating judge also ordered the preventive seizure of the proceeds of the corruption offences. According to the investigators, the money was allegedly used to procure a consignment of poor-quality concrete, a circumstance which the investigating judge deemed to be of extraordinary gravity. The bribes were concealed in panettone cakes given as Christmas gifts.