Pescara, bribes to politicians: Marinelli facing trial

There are twelve further requests for indictment in the maxi-investigation which revolves around the healthcare entrepreneur Vincenzo Marinelli. Yesterday, in fact, the public prosecutor Andrea Di Giovanni also requested the trial of almost all the suspects in the third line of investigations into alleged fraudulent public procurement. He is taking shape in a mega procurement and supply process, divided into various fronts. In this last tranche, the magnifying glass is focused on two tenders from the Pescara Local Health Authority with a total value of approximately 17 million euros. In particular, it concerns the 13 million one for services to fragile patients and the four million one for home telecare, which would have been rigged to the advantage of the former president of Pescara football, whose role as lord of health supplies takes on contours increasingly marked.

Marinelli himself, in the opinion of the public prosecution, would have greased the mechanism of awarding tenders with bribes and gifts to managers of the health company and local politicians. In fact, in addition to ASL officials and intermediaries, well-known exponents of right and left parties are also accused of corruption. In particular, the Northern League member Fabrizio Di Stefano allegedly received 5000 euros unduly for the electoral campaign of the last administrative elections in Chieti, which he attempted to hide by issuing two invoices for non-existent operations. Party colleague Sabrina Bocchino would also have received the same sum, but she would also have received gifts, such as jewellery, bags and champagne worth around 6,000 euros.

THE INVOLVEMENTS

Furthermore, 15 thousand euros would be those received by the Forzista Mauro Febbo, both while he was regional councilor and when he sat in the Council as group leader. Finally, 28 thousand euros would have ended up in the pockets of the PD regional councilor and former regional health councilor Silvio Paolucci. The latter could also have to answer for aiding and abetting, as he is also accused of having warned the manager of the local health authority Tiziana Petrella that there were investigations underway: he would have done so through his trusted man Corrado Greco and the municipal manager Guido Dezio, the who would have told the manager that the phones were being tapped.

The indictment for crimes such as corruption and bid rigging was also requested for the health company official Antonio Verna and Gabriele Di Bucchianico of the SGS consortium. The only suspect who will certainly not be charged is Petrella, who obtained a plea deal. The decision on the possible opening of the trial will arrive on July 10, when the judge will express his opinion on the matter during the next hearing. In total there are four strands of this maxi-investigation: all concern contracts that would have been piloted to the advantage of Marinelli and his companies. The first three are already under the attention of the judges, while the fourth is at the stage of notification of the conclusion of the investigations.

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