In the early hours of today, 15 May 2024, the Ragusa State Police carried out six precautionary measures in execution of the application orders issued by the Preliminary Investigations Judge of the Ragusa Court at the request of the Ordinary Prosecutor’s Office.
The laborious and painstaking investigation activity, launched by the Flying Squad investigators in close collaboration with the Judicial Authority, made it possible to identify an assistance center for foreigners located in Ragusa, managed by two of the recipients of the precautionary measures who, in light of the payment of large sums of money, offered foreigners – mainly of Tunisian nationality – a series of homes in the historic center of the city to be used for the sole purpose of obtaining registered residence, preparatory to the presentation of requests for the release and/or renewal of the residence permit or even family reunification permit.
The investigation, corroborated by numerous observation services, brought to light thirteen homes which were occupied by foreigners only during checks by two municipal operators, who, in exchange for the payment of money, failed to carry out the check, limiting themselves to bland and superficial checks, subsequently communicating to the registry office the passing of the assessment, by virtue of which the registered residence in the Municipality of Ragusa was subsequently granted.
During the activity carried out, a central role was that of one of the arrested people who carried out not only the function of maintaining close contact with the two municipal operators but also that of accompanying and directing the foreigners to the homes – unknown to them – in which they had requested to establish their residence and to have them detained for the time strictly necessary for the operator’s control.
After the ritual formalities, three of the recipients of the measures, one of which was a woman, were subjected to the precautionary measure of house arrest, another woman subjected to the obligation to reside in the Municipality of Ragusa while the two municipal operators were suspended of the exercise of a public office or service.
