Prato, mayor Ilaria Bugetti investigated for corruption

The mayor of Prato Ilaria Bugetti is under investigation by the public prosecutor's office in Florence for the alleged crime of corruption as part of an investigation into election financing. The offices of the first citizen, elected last year with a centre-left coalition, were searched this morning and at the same time Bugetti was served an invitation to appear for questioning that will take place in the coming days.

"With this communiqué, in my capacity as mayor of Prato, I feel it is my duty to immediately communicate that on today, 13 June, I received a notice of guarantee from the Procura della Repubblica di Firenze," writes Bugetti. "I am communicating these circumstances at the precise moment in which the investigative operations have been completed. In relation to the content of this notice, my person made himself immediately available to the prosecuting authority in mutual respect of roles'.

The note continues: "As of now, I reiterate my absolute trust in the work of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, and I will not shy away from any feedback, explaining my reasons, trusting in the fact and having the certainty that my work has always been marked by personal, institutional as well as legal correctness. As I said, I am at the disposal of the investigating bodies and with confidence I will continue in my role with dedication and attention to the common good as I have always done'.

The enquiry launched by the Anti-Mafia District Directorate of Florence allegedly concerns relations between the mayor and the businessman Riccardo Matteini Bresci, a former director of the Colle Group of Cantagallo, who was arrested at the end of May last year for alleged illicit favours received from the then commander of the Prato Carabinieri Company, Colonel Sergio Turini.

According to investigative sources, Bugetti is alleged to have had relations with Matteini Bresci, with whom she had already had working relations when she was mayor of Cantagallo, when she was still a regional councillor for the Democratic Party. The businessman, according to the investigators' hypothesis, allegedly asked Bugetti to protect his activities.