It happens in Savelli, a municipality in the province of Crotone, in Calabria: the employees had misappropriated millions of euros of municipal funds and, with extreme nonchalancethey had transferred them directly to their current accounts.
A financial scandal has shaken the peace municipality of Savelliin the Crotone area, with the emergence of a case of embezzlement which led to the investigation of three individuals, two of whom were municipal employees. The prosecution alleges that they orchestrated an ingenious fraud scheme, with the help of false payment orders, to steal money intended for public spending and direct it to personal or business accounts linked to them.
Let’s find out specifically what happened and what damage was caused to public coffers.
In Calabria, municipal employees of Savelli (KR) transferred public funds to their current accounts
According to what was reported in the press agencies, the head of the financial sector together with a municipal employee and a third person not involved in the work of the institution were involved in this alleged scam which took place over the course of a decade, from 2013 to 2023. Investigators have identified approximately 320 falsified payment ordersthrough which public money would have been diverted to the bank accounts of the suspects instead of being used to pay for services and utilities intended for the municipal body.
The investigations conducted by Investigation Unit of the Carabinieri of Crotone and from Cirò Marina Company led to significant results, with the seizure of a wide range of assets with a total value of 2.8 million euros. These goods include land, homes, jewelery and sums of cash. In particular, it was singled out a complex money laundering scheme illicitly obtained, involving a company based in Milan and a bar located in Florenceboth linked to the suspects.
The investigation revealed involvement on multiple fronts, with the operation touching several locations, including Modena. Here he was searched an accounting firm associated with the suspectswith the seizure of a number of important assets, including cash, valuable jewelery and documentation relevant to the ongoing investigation.
All the seized assets are now under the custody of a judicial administrator appointed by the Crotone Public Prosecutor’s Officeas part of the ongoing investigations to shed light on this fraud against the Municipality of Savelli.
What is meant by embezzlement?
The embezzlement crime it is an involving crime the misappropriation of goods or money by a public official or person in charge of a public service, during the exercise of his duties. In essence, it occurs when an individual responsible for managing or safeguarding public money or assets misuses them for his own benefit, violating the duty of loyalty and loyalty towards the public body he represents.
Embezzlement can manifest itself in various forms, such as:
- personal use of public resources
- the embezzlement of money intended for public purposes
- or the manipulation of funds or documents for private purposes.
What are the penalties for this crime?
Embezzlement is one of the crimes against public administration and represents one of the most serious forms of abuse of power and corruption in the public sector.
It is a serious crime that undermines trust in public administration and damages the community, as it compromises the integrity and efficiency of the institutions.
The legal consequences of embezzlement can vary depending on the jurisdiction and severity of the case, but usually involve criminal penalties, including arrest, fines and loss of public employment. Furthermore, the perpetrator of the crime may be required to fully compensate the damage caused to the public body.
In the Italian Criminal Codethe crime of embezzlement is governed by articles 314 et seq. Article 314 establishes that the public official or person in charge of a public service who, abusing his capacity or functions, carries out acts contrary to his official duties, appropriating money, goods or other benefits that have been entrusted to him by reason of his office, is punished with imprisonment from four to twelve years and a fine from 258 to 1,549 euros.
Furthermore, article 316 provides that if the embezzlement is committed by a person in charge of a public service or by a custodian, or by a public employee, who abuses his capacity or functions, the sentence increased with penalties established proportionally to the degree of involvement and seriousness of the crime.
Why is this an extremely serious matter?
The case of embezzlement in the Municipality of Savelli nIt is not only a crime against the public body, but also a serious betrayal of citizens’ trust. When public employees claim the right to divert funds intended for the good of the community for personal purposes, an offense is committed not only against the law, but also against the fundamental principles of justice and integrity.
Illegally stolen public money could have been employed for improve essential services, support local development projects or provide assistance to the neediest citizens. Instead, it was dissipated through fraudulent action, depriving the community of the resources it is rightfully entitled to.
This type of behavior it profoundly damages trust in public administration and undermines the social fabric of the community. Citizens rely on public institutions to guarantee their well-being and security, but when this trust is betrayed by those who should protect it, a widespread sense of mistrust and disillusionment towards the institutions themselves is created.
Furthermore, the damage is not only limited to the material loss of public resources, but also extends to reputation of the organization involved and its employees. A case of embezzlement casts a shadow over the entire organization, compromising the credibility and effectiveness of its future activities.
In conclusion, embezzlement represents a direct attack on the trust and integrity of the public body, as well as inflicting serious damage on citizens who are the true recipients of public services and resources. It is essential that such behavior is vigorously prosecuted and that effective measures are taken to prevent the recurrence of similar abuses of power and corruption.
Source: article by lentepubblica.it editorial staff
