The investigation has now reconstructed in detail what happened in Alta Leventina on the night of November 14th, when State Councilor Norman Gobbi was involved in a road accident. It was he who alerted the police. Not seeing the patrol arriving, he actually called her twice. Then – the analysis of telephone records confirmed – he no longer contacted anyone, deferring to the instructions given by the agents.
The first alcohol test he underwent (the “precursor”) revealed a slightly higher level than permitted. But the writing appeared on the device’s display, photographed and recorded: “calibration expired”. For this reason, the second test (the “probative”) was carried out, from which a value below the limit emerged. Gobbi didn’t ask for it, as has always been thought, but the police wanted it.
The order was decided, during a telephone call, by the three people now under investigation for abuse of authority and aiding and abetting: the picket officer (defended by Elio Brunetti), a member of the gendarmerie (sponsored by Maria Galliani) and a group leader (represented by Roy Bay). After that call the officer had no further telephone contact. The other two policemen left for Camorino to take the machine and take it to Airolo. According to the data provided by the car’s GPS system, the route was covered in 35 minutes. An absolutely normal time.
However, the test was carried out shortly after the scheduled two hours from the time of the accident. Deadline beyond which it is necessary to proceed with the blood test. But here too, the five-minute delay could be explained: both by the margin of error linked to the exact time of the accident and by the degree of precision (not impeccable) of the device’s clock.
And in any case – the defense claims – it was so small as to make the blood test, which should have been held at the Bellinzona hospital, disproportionate. When you exceed this amount and find yourself in distant places, you can ignore it; just as has been done in other cases. In short, according to the defendants, Gobbi did not receive preferential treatment.
An abandonment order is looming against the picket officer. The position of the other two suspects is more open. The investigation – as mentioned – is nearing completion, and the Attorney General Andrea Pagani will shortly issue his decisions.
