New searches this morning in Rome as part of a corruption investigation, a development of the investigative thread on Sogei, controlled by the Treasury, which emerged in October 2024.
At the center of the new investigation by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office is a complex system of alleged rigged contracts to steer IT supplies involving large companies and strategic institutions, including the Ministry of Defense, Terna, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Rfi), and the National Strategic Hub (Psn), the latter being the company partly owned by Tim, Leonardo, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Cdp, through its subsidiary Cdp Equity), and Sogei.
Currently, there are 26 suspects and among those searched are “also generals of the Defense, executives of public companies, and entrepreneurs,” reports Ansa.
This is the picture emerging from the investigation documents coordinated by magistrates Giuseppe De Falco, Giuseppe Cascini, Lorenzo Del Giudice, and Gianfranco Ga, which hypothesizes variously crimes of corruption, illicit influence trafficking, bid rigging, and money laundering.
According to what Repubblica has learned from the investigation records – in which he is not under investigation – the name of Giorgio Mulè, former Undersecretary of Defense and currently Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, also appears.
The ministry headed by Minister Guido Crosetto immediately reacted, “having assured full support and maximum cooperation since the start of investigative activities begun in previous years.”
According to SkyTg24, the investigations that led to today’s searches started from a report filed by the Ministry of Defense itself, which had detected suspicious situations.
All the details.
THE NEW INVESTIGATION, A BRANCH OF THE SOGEI INQUIRY
This morning the Guardia di Finanza carried out searches nationwide as part of an investigation coordinated by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office, a development of the previously initiated investigations on Sogei, the Ministry of Economy’s IT services company, at the center of the large corruption investigation by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office that in October 2024 led to the arrest of former Sogei CEO Paolino Iorio and entrepreneur Massimo Rossi.
Iorio pleaded guilty to a three-year sentence after the ‘caught in the act’ arrest for corruption on October 15, 2024, while pocketing a bribe of 15,000 euros from Massimo Rossi, former legal representative of Itd Solutions, the company controlled by Digital Value. The case also involved Navy Captain Antonio Angelo Masala, who is also under investigation in the new branch of the inquiry, according to the Sole 24 Ore.
Therefore, about 15 people are under investigation, bringing the total number involved since the Sogei inquiry to 26.
THE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE NEW INVESTIGATION
According to today’s report by Repubblica, the core of the new investigation by the Rome Prosecutor’s Office “is entrepreneur Francesco Dattola, considered by investigators the de facto administrator of NSR s.r.l., supported – among others – by Stefano Tronelli, owner of Tron Group Holding s.r.l., and intermediary Spalletta. According to the prosecution’s theory, the group built a system capable of generating undeclared liquidity through invoices for non-existent operations and subsequent money laundering operations, converting bank transfers into cash to be used for corrupt payments.”
A CYCLE OF FALSE INVOICES
According to the prosecution’s hypothesis, the system was based on issuing fictitious invoices issued by companies linked to Tronelli to NSR for non-existent operations aimed at generating cash liquidity, also through laundering into luxury goods such as valuable watches. According to investigators, the proceeds of these operations were used to feed corrupt relationships and favor the group’s companies.
CORRUPTION AND ILLEGAL CONTRACTS
According to the prosecutor’s documents, it emerges that “the group would have been able to influence selection procedures, also through prior knowledge of the tender specifications or their modification,” reports Repubblica.
“The investigations hypothesize interference in drafting tender specifications and acquiring confidential information to favor specific companies in multi-million contracts, such as a 400 million euro tender related to RFI,” reports Fatto Quotidiano. Or regarding contracts towards Terna spa, where interference with purchasing offices is suspected, Repubblica also reports.
RELATIONS WITH COMPANIES
The system also includes relationships with major industrial players.
As in the case of Red Hat, since the country manager for Italy, Rodolfo Falcone, is accused of having favored Dattola’s companies with institutional clients in exchange for economic benefits. The supplies would have involved, among others, Tim spa, with a purchase volume of millions of euros through the distributor Esprinet, Repubblica reports again.
The involvement of executives of public companies and high-profile industrial figures completes the picture of a system believed to be capable of influencing strategic sectors of the national economy.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
The chapter concerning the Ministry of Defense is particularly sensitive.
According to today’s Repubblica, the investigation also reveals high-ranking officers, including General Francesco Modesto, with whom – according to the accusation – Francesco Dattola allegedly collaborated already during the phase of defining technical requirements, before the formal start of procedures. In this context, Antonio Spalletta would have played a facilitator role, moving among institutional environments to promote contacts and decisions.
As already mentioned, Repubblica also cites the name of the Vice President of the Chamber from Forza Italia, Giorgio Mulè, former Undersecretary of Defense. “The businessman-dealer Antonio Spalletta allegedly intervened ‘through the (real or alleged) intervention of a political figure (Mulè, ed.)’ to promote Pier Francesco Coppola to Air Force General, destined to lead the meteorological systems section of the IV Department. According to the investigative hypothesis, in this role Coppola could have represented a strategic reference point, allowing Spalletta to obtain advantages and attempt to secure contracts,” the newspaper reports.
THE POSITION OF THE MINISTRY HEADED BY CROSETTO
Full support to the judicial authorities from the Defense Ministry.
“Regarding the searches conducted by the Guardia di Finanza as part of an investigation by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Defense has assured full support and maximum cooperation since the start of investigative activities begun in previous years,” reads the statement issued by the ministry headed by Minister Crosetto.
“Any ascertained responsibilities will be pursued with the utmost severity, in compliance with the law and the prerogatives of the Judicial Authority,” concludes the Ministry of Defense’s statement.
