Politicians, entrepreneurs among 69 arrested in anti-mafia

 Italian police arrested 69 people, including local politicians and entrepreneurs, in a major anti-mafia operation against Naples-based Camorra crime syndicate on Wednesday.

The operation targeted a faction within the powerful Casalesi clan, according to prosecutors of the Anti-Mafia District Directorate (DDA) in Naples.

Some 30 people were brought to jail, while 39 people were put under house arrest or other custodial measures.

All of the arrestees were variously charged with corruption, bid rigging, and external support to mafia association. A council member of the Campania region, of which Naples is the capital, and the mayor of the town of Aversa are among the charged.

The probe focused on 18 renovation public contracts assigned by various municipalities in the Naples province between 2013 and 2016. Most of the works were allegedly bestowed and carried out by few firms linked to the involved faction of the Camorra, according to prosecutors.

At least 13 cases of corruption and 15 cases of collusive tendering were ascertained during the probe, prosecutor Nunzio Fragliasso was quoted as saying by La Repubblica newspaper.

Local architects, engineers and other professionals, along with public officers working in the tendering committees, would have participating in the rigging of the contracts, according to Ansa news agency.

Wednesday's operation was a follow-up of a previous anti-corruption probe, which in 2016 brought about the arrest of the former mayor of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, north of Naples, under the charges of corruption and rigging of restoration public contracts.

Source: Xinhua