The judicial earthquake involving the president of Liguria Giovanni Toti continues to reveal disturbing details: the investigation led to ten precautionary measures and over 25 suspects, illuminating a network of favors in exchange for votes, with links to organized crime. The seized assets, including bribes in cash, credit cards and luxury jewellery, represent, according to investigators, only the tip of the iceberg of a deeply rooted corruption system.
The investigation, which initially began with the aim of investigating electoral corruption, has evolved to reveal a wider web of implications. Currently, among those under investigation are prominent names in the economic and political sectors of the region. Among these, Paolo Emilio Signorini, former president of the Port Authority and CEO of Iren, and Aldo Spinelli, former president of Genoa and Livorno, both considered central figures in the alleged ring of favours.
The political front is also divided: if on the one hand the M5S and the PD hope for Toti’s immediate resignation, on the other figures such as Minister Crosetto defend him: “If a regional president is under house arrest it is quite difficult for him to continue to administer the Region”.
In the meantime, the judicial front is also investigating the foundation headed by Toti, Change, while another possible scandal emerges linked to the entrepreneur Colucci and waste disposal.
Questioning Signorini: uses the right not to answer
On a day like Thursday 9 May, characterized by strong media attention, Paolo Emilio Signorini, former president of the Port Authority of Genoa and suspended CEO of Iren, was interrogated in the Marassi prison where he is currently in a state of arrest. Signorini has chosen to exercise the right not to respond in front of judge Paola Faggioni and deputy prosecutor Luca Monteverde, despite the presence of his lawyers.
Enrico Scopesi, Paolo Emilio Signorini’s lawyer, provided some details on his client’s future plans. Despite the critical situation, Signorini appears calm and says he is ready to talk, but not during his current state of imprisonment. His lawyer emphasized the need to carefully analyze the documents before formulating a response, suggesting that any statement will be made at a more appropriate time.
Toti’s interrogation today: he too will remain silent
Governor Toti preparing to be heard today 10 May 2024. He is now under house arrest, accused of corruption and of having carried out acts contrary to his official duties. Like his colleague Signorini, Toti announced through his legal team that he will not answer questions.
His lawyer, Stefano Savi, highlighted the traceability of the governor’s financial movements, denying any anomaly in the transactions. This detail could play a crucial role in Toti’s defense, which hopes to demonstrate the legitimacy of his financial actions.
For Francesco Moncada and Maurizio Rossi also the hypothesis of illicit financing
The investigation extends beyond the boundaries of politics directly into the economic and publishing fields, with Francesco Moncada, director of Esselunga, and Maurizio Rossi, publisher of Primocanale, who now find themselves under investigation for possible illicit financing. However, these accusations have not yet been formalized as precautionary measures.
Investigations into the Change foundation
In the meantime, a new line of investigation has opened, which has focused on illicit financing of the Change foundation and Toti’s party. Investigators and prosecutor Luca Monteverde are examining financial contributions to the foundation, with particular attention to donors who may have hidden their payments.
Entrepreneurs under investigation: the case of Pietro Colucci and Luigi Alberto Amico
Pietro Colucci, Campania entrepreneur active in the management of non-hazardous special waste, is also at the center of the investigators’ attention. He is accused of illicit party financing and corruption for allegedly providing 195,000 euros to Toti in exchange for authorizations related to landfill management.
Between 2016 and 2020, the companies belonging to Pietro Colucci’s group would have paid the sum of 195,000 euros to Giovanni Toti, as reported by the investigators. During this period, the same companies had direct interactions with the Liguria Region, the body responsible for issuing authorizations for landfill management. According to what emerges from the ordinance, these funding for the Change Committee and the Giovanni Toti Liguria Committee not only did they lack formal approval from the corporate bodies of Colucci’s companies, but in some cases they were not even recorded in the financial statements of the companies themselves.
Similarly, Luigi Alberto Amico, owner of a naval maintenance company, is under investigation for having made a suspicious payment of 30,000 euros to the Toti Committee, reported by the Bank of Italy.
Possible interrogation for the mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci
The next actions of the investigators include the interrogation of Marco Bucci, mayor of Genoa. Bucci could provide fundamental information on port terminal concessions and those relating to large-scale retail trade, key sectors in the current investigation.
Political tensions are becoming increasingly heated
At the same time, political tensions worsen with the leader of the 5 Star Movement, Giuseppe Contewho harshly criticizes Giovanni Toti’s stay in office: “It is madness for a politician to remain there, there is a political responsibility,” declared Conte, emphasizing the need not to wait for a definitive conviction to ask for the resignation of those involved in corruption scandals.
Meanwhile, the civic association “Genova che Osa” organized a demonstration on May 9th in the heart of Genoa, for ask for Toti’s resignation, highlighting public discontent with the management of public affairs and corruption. “Toti was arrested together with entrepreneurs and managers, a system of power that has sold out Liguria to the economic interests of a privileged few,” states the association.
The Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, defends Giovanni Toti regarding the use of preventive detention, stressing that it was not applied to prevent the repetition of serious crimes, escape, or tampering with evidence, but could have had political motivationsgiven the electoral context.
According to Crosetto, the logic used to justify Toti’s arrest could theoretically extend to many other public officials, including mayors, regional presidents and even magistrates.
He also highlighted how the accusations against Toti concern declared financing of his electoral campaign, obtained in exchange for alleged favours, a situation reminiscent of other investigations in the past, where the accusations later proved to be unfounded. Crosetto maintains that the situation seems to follow a script already seen in previous cases such as that of Fitto, who later turned out to be innocent.
