FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
GENOA – Toti “boasted” that he could solve all the problems, but in the end “he didn’t do anything”: apparently avoids accusing the governor, but in essence Spinelli takes on the role of the victim and, by admitting that he financed the governor who subjected him to constant pressure, he risks getting him into even more trouble. Technically, it looks like extortion.
Swollen river
12.43pm last Monday. The 84-year-old, volcanic entrepreneur, under arrest under house arrest like Giovanni Toti in the investigation that shook Liguria, for an hour answers questions of the investigating judge Paola Faggioni and the prosecutor Luca Monteverde despite his defender in the courtroom, the lawyer Andrea Vernazza, advised him against it because he has “very high blood sugar”.
AND a river in flood difficult to stem. The highlight comes halfway through the 5 pages of the report, when the prosecutor asks him if Toti did he ever go with him to Monte Carlo, given that he had said «I’ll come and see you and we’ll go eat at the Beach (…) I’ll come with my wife».
«He came to the Grill (Le Grill of the famous Hotel de Paris, ed.) recently eating with his wife, he was on business with Briatore (unrelated to the investigation, ed.) and no one paid there either. At the Grill I think he came this time and that’s it, at the Beach (Monte Carlo Beach, luxury hotel on the beach, ed.) never. (…) He went on his own with Briatore but I don’t know if to a hotel that cost less.” They met with the governor once again in the Principality «invited by a friend» with «about thirty people». The investigations reveal a close relationship between Toti and Spinelliwho explains it like this: “I don’t know, out of sympathy, we also became friends.”
Punta dell’Olmo
To achieve privatization of the beach of Punta dell’Olmo in Varazze, and make the value of the apartments he built there skyrocket, Spinelli does everything. «I turned to the governor», he declared in the chamber, just as «I turned to Burlando (Claudio, Pd, predecessor to the Region, not under investigation, ed.) when I had problems». On Toti, however, he confirms what emerges from the wiretaps in which the governor tells one of his regional councilors that “a solution must be found”, which will not arrive because European legislation prevents it. “We asked if we could benefit by doing things regularly but we never got it.” In March 2023 Toti told him that he had “solved the problem” and that he would go to visit him, because with the elections in 23 municipalities “we need a hand”. «I spend two and a half million and you don’t give me a piece of the beach? Toti didn’t do anything”, the entrepreneur declared to the magistrates, «he must have said it to boast. I didn’t promise him the financing.”
Politicians and words in the wind
Scio’ Aldo, as they call him in Genoa, admits having given Toti electoral financing (for the prosecution, 74 thousand euros in bribes) but respecting the law: «I have always given electoral things to him. I told him I would give him his hand during the election campaign”, the money “is all documented” because «I have never given (illicit?, ed.) financing to anyone» in the company. «Only official money», also «to Pannella and Bonino who I don’t even know. They sent me a letter asking for help and I gave it to them.” Emma Bonino (not involved), confirming that she does not know Spinelli, denies that +Europa has received funding from him.
For the 30-year extension of the Bulk concession, approved by the Port Authority after the intervention of Signorini and Toti, the Governor’s committees, according to the accusation, they will receive bribes worth 40 thousand euros. She “just had to be ratified, I called Toti. He didn’t do anything and then I said I would go to the prosecutor’s office because he was a disgrace » Aldo Spinelli records. The solution, he says, came after «commander Aponte (of MSC, a large international shipowner, not involved in the investigation ed.) I don’t know who called.”. Toti “had moved, he didn’t do anything, he called”. And here he makes a weighty admission: «We gave him the 40 thousand euros because he was interested, everything was in order», «I confirm all the other financing, I confirm everything». «Politicians do everything to get votes»«these here speak to the wind, (Toti) boasted».
Gentlemen
To the precious Paolo Signorini (the only one in prison) hello Aldo he would have promised a job worth 300 thousand euros a year and given gifts worth 100 thousandincluding, according to prosecutor Nicola Piacente, 15 thousand euros for the catering of his daughter’s wedding. «They are the only thing I gave to Signorini and he will return them to me by June or July of next year when he will get the fourteenth and will have the profits. (…) I was surprised that he didn’t have the money »because« the family didn’t give it to him». Not a bribe, but a cash gift so that «it wouldn’t show up because he is a public man.”
And i 22 stays for 42 nights in Monte Carlo, lunches, dinners, massages and casinos included for the president Port Authority and companion? He replies that, being a VIP customer with a credit of up to 1.5 million, he and his guests did not pay. The 7,200 euro Cartier bracelet, the Chanel bag for the lady, the job for him? To thank them: “They were close to me after my wife’s death.” Spinelli could ask for house arrest to be revoked. «We have nothing to say, we are analyzing the papers and we reserve the right to do so in the next few days», declares the lawyer Alessandro Vaccaro who joined the defense panel.
