Per Victor Sgarbi a new line of investigation opens up in the tormented affair of quadro Of Vittorio Zecchin titled “The Garden of the Fairies”: the Rome prosecutor’s office is investigating any undue pressure from the art critic on some officials of the Ministry of Culture. Sgarbi is said to have tried to persuade them not to exercise their right of pre-emption on the painting.
Calls to Mibac officials
The work was then purchased by Sgarbi’s partner, Sabrina Colleper 148.000 euro in October 2020.
At the centre of the investigation there would be some phone calls occurred between 2020 and 2021. At the time Vittorio Sgarbi held the role of deputy of the Mixed Group and was therefore a public officialThe news was released by the Everyday occurrence.
In the end, Sgarbi managed to obtain the painting, which was purchased by his partner. According to prosecutors, the Ministry of Culture had shown interest in purchasing the canvas. The Economic and Financial Police Unit of Rome heard two ministry officials as witnesses.
The two would have talked about several phone calls received from Sgarbi, come on insistent and excited tones. The officials claim that they finally gave up on the painting painted in 1913 by Vittorio Zecchin, not exercising the right of pre-emption guaranteed to the Mibac, due to “exhaustion”.
Sgarbi investigated for undue inducement
As reported by the newspaper, prosecutors are considering the possibility of Sgarbi undue inducementa crime which, pursuant to Article 319 quater of the Criminal Code, carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment of up to 10 years and 6 months.
The other strand
The purchase of “Il Giardino delle Fate” has already cost Sgarbi and his partner a request for indictment for fraudulent evasion of tax paymentsAccording to the prosecution, Sgarbi allegedly disguised the purchase and Sabrina Colle acted as a front.
Sgarbi’s version
The story has been going on for some time. Sgarbi assured that his partner would not be a mere figurehead, but the true recipient of the painting. At his time the critic explained to the Everyday occurrence that “the painting was donated” to his “fiancée by Corrado Sforza Fogliani, as shown by the bank transfer”.
Photo source: ANSA
