This morning, over 60 financial police officers from the Trapani provincial command are executing 14 personal precautionary measures issued by the Courts of Marsala and Trapani, at the request of the European Prosecutor's Office - Palermo office - and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Marsala, against well-known political figures from the Trapani area who have held and/or hold important roles at the municipal, regional and, in one case, national level.
At the same time, multiple house and local searches are also underway in the provinces of Trapani and Palermo aimed at seeking and acquiring further evidence and investigative findings.
Today's operations are part of a complex and detailed investigative activity, carried out by the Economic and Financial Police unit of the Guardia di Finanza of Trapani under the direction of the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Marsala, which has allowed the uncovering of the commission of multiple crimes of aggravated fraud for the obtaining of public funds, corruption, embezzlement and money laundering and self-laundering.
The main promoter and organizer of the crimes committed was a former senator of the Republic as well as a former member of the Sicilian Regional Assembly and councilor of the Sicilian Region, supported on a permanent basis – among others – by a manager of MPA (“Movement for Autonomy”) as well as of the VIA (“Values, Commitment, Action”) movement, by a representative of the VIA movement of Marsala, and by a former councilor of the municipality of Cinisi (PA), interested in seeking and acquiring growing consensus around the VIA political movement, broadening its composition and area of influence on the Trapani and regional territory, also in view of subsequent electoral rounds.
In order to obtain illicit enrichment and pursue the ambitious political project, the main suspects, making instrumental use of the bodies CE.SI.FO.P. (Sicilian Centre for Professional Training), IRES (Institute for Economic and Social Studies and Research) and the Tai Association, have unduly obtained funding weighing on the European Social Fund Operational Programme 2014/2020 for over 8,7 million euros to be allocated to the implementation of training courses and projects in the social field, some of which were not held, as ascertained in the investigations. Of this sum, approximately eight hundred thousand euros have already been received and used to support personal luxury expenses or expenses connected to initiatives to support the VIA political movement and electoral campaigns, and a further 2,5 million have reportedly been disbursed shortly.
The Guardia di Finanza, in execution of the provisions issued by the AA.GG. proceeding, have therefore seized, also for equivalent, approximately 1 million euros, equal to the amount of the sums embezzled or laundered, as well as the preventive seizure of approximately 8 million euros residual already financed. The investigations have also made it possible to ascertain how six local political exponents - four of whom are currently councilors at the Municipalities of Marsala and Custonaci - and, above all, their relatives, despite lacking the required qualifications and skills, were assigned or promised job positions, appointments and promotions at the aforementioned training institutions, in exchange for the support guaranteed to the aforementioned political movement.
Among the 24 individuals investigated overall, six other political figures who hold or have held positions in the municipalities of Marsala, Buseto Palizzolo, Calatafimi-Segesta, Castellammare del Golfo and Erice are also implicated, to varying degrees, in the crimes of aggravated fraud for the obtaining of public funds, embezzlement and money laundering.
Today's operation confirms the central role played by the Guardia di Finanza, in close synergy with the Judicial Authority - European and national -, as guarantor of the economic and financial interests of the European Union and of national and regional budgets, as well as a fundamental garrison for the protection of legality in public administration.
It should be noted that the provision in question was issued on the basis of the evidence acquired during the preliminary investigation phase; therefore, pending a final judgment, the presumption of innocence of the accused exists.
The dissemination of this press release has been authorized by the Judicial Authority pursuant to art. 5, paragraph 1, of Legislative Decree no. 106/2006, as amended by art. 3 of Legislative Decree no. 188/2021.
