The president of the Liguria Region, Giovanni Toti, will continue to serve house arrest. The decision was made by the judge for preliminary investigations Paola Faggioni, who rejected the request for revocation presented by the lawyer Stefano Savi.
Filippo Cozzani, entrepreneur and brother of the former head of cabinet of the Liguria Region, has instead seen his house arrest revoked.
Judge Faggioni’s accusations and motivations
The president of the Liguria Region is currently under investigation for alleged crimes of corruption and vote trading. The judge responsible for the preliminary investigations justified the decision by claiming that there is a concrete risk that Toti could repeat the illicit actions for which he is under investigation.
According to judge Paola Faggioni, the risk of repeating the crime is a determining factor in the decision. The judge underlined the possibility that Toti could be tempted to commit the same illicit acts again, especially in consideration of the next regional elections scheduled for 2025.
A further element that influenced the decision concerns future electoral competitions. The judge highlighted that Toti had already started raising funds for upcoming election campaigns, which increases the risk of illicit behavior related to his position and political activities.
In response to the decision, Toti’s lawyer announced his intention to appeal to the Court of Review. However, the appeal will be heard in about a month, leaving Toti under house arrest until then.
The stages of the investigation
The investigation against Toti examined four electoral competitions held between October 2021 and May 2023. The judge declared that, on these occasions, the suspect would have used his position and power to favor private interests in exchange for funding. This accusation is supported by the statements of the entrepreneurs Spinelli and Moncada, who confirmed Toti’s involvement in advantageous administrative practices in exchange for financial support.
Among the evidence collected, the meetings between Toti and Aldo Spinelli stand out. In a specific case, on 24 March 2024, Toti allegedly informed a collaborator of Spinelli’s availability to participate in a fundraising dinner, with a contribution of 4,500 euros. Furthermore, Toti would have referred to an additional sum received from Spinelli, in addition to the official participation in the electoral dinner.
Filippo Cozzani no longer under house arrest
Cozzani, on the other hand, is a free man, but with restrictions. In his decision, the judge noted that the precautionary needs, although still present, have been attenuated. Despite this, the danger of repeating the crime remains, which is why it was decided to apply specific restrictions.
According to the investigations, Matteo Cozzani, taking advantage of his role as mayor of Portovenere and head of cabinet of the Liguria Region, favored the entrepreneurs involved in the scandal in exchange for benefits. In particular, it is claimed that he would have directed works and supplies to his family’s businesses, officially managed by his brother Filippo, but in fact also controlled by him.
The investigators highlighted the solid dual role of Matteo Cozzani, who would have used his influence to facilitate the activities of family businesses. This behavior would have ensured commissions for works and supplies to the entrepreneurs involved, in exchange for favors received.
Judge De Bellis therefore considered that, despite the attenuation of the precautionary requirements, it was necessary to impose the prohibition to Filippo Cozzani by carry out any professional, entrepreneurial or managerial activity. This measure aims to prevent further infringements and to guarantee the fairness of the ongoing proceedings.
