Citizenship Income: those who received the subsidy owned companies, cars or properties, or had a criminal record

(To Carabinieri weapon)
03/11/21

Some had a Ferrari, some a boat, some multiple apartments, some a car rental with 27 cars, some a dance school. And there are even those who invented having children. There is a bit of everything among those who have unduly received citizenship income in Southern Italy.

This is what emerged between 1 May and 17 October in the checks carried out by the carabinieri of the Interregional Command "Ogaden", with jurisdiction over the regions of Campania, Puglia, Abruzzo, Molise and Basilicata, together with the Command of the Carabinieri for the Protection of Labor. Controls aimed at verifying the real existence of the requirements by the recipients of citizenship income.

4.839 irregularities were found, 12% of the 38.450 households checked for a sample of 87.198 people. As many as 1.338 undue earners of income were already known to the police for other reasons and 90 of them have convictions or precedents for serious crimes of an association type. Almost 20 million euros the amount of the total amount unduly received.  

THE STORIES

In family

Collepasso (LE), a person has declared the presence in his or her family unit of six foreign minors never registered in that municipality, without having any ties of kinship with them and with the indication of personal data without place of birth and nationality. In the same Apulian municipality, a couple has included in their family the presence of other family members, actually residing in Germany.

Nova Siri (MT), the carabinieri referred an Asian citizen for falsely declaring the presence in Italy of his wife and two daughters, who thus received the income while actually living in the country of origin.

Napoli there is the curious case of a man from the Stella district, present in two distinct families who had both requested and obtained the benefit.

In province of Caserta a person falsely declared to be part of a family unit made up of several people, which in fact does not exist.

Santeramo in Colle (BA) a woman was reported to the judicial authorities because she had "forgotten" to indicate, not only the license plate or the registration number of a vehicle owned, but even her spouse. In this case, the carabinieri have ascertained that the woman, in order to receive the citizenship income, had requested the registered residence in a street of the Santeramano municipality which was not the same apartment in which her husband resided and resided, or a single apartment, with two different entrances.

In province of Caserta 8 people from the same family have falsely certified that they belong to 3 distinct families and that they reside in as many residential units, even though they live in the same building.

"Propertyless"

In province of Avellino a 70-year-old cohabiting with a municipal official (not investigated) owned a Ferrari brand car, numerous properties and land owned.

Also in province of Avellino, a 50-year-old received citizenship income, believed to be the regent of the “Cavalese” Camorra clan, operating in the area.

Ad Isernia a woman, owner of a car rental company and owner of 27 vehicles, with false attestations relating to residence, income received and work, has wrongfully obtained citizenship income.

Ad Aradeo (LE) an individual, in addition to being subjected to the restrictive measure of home detention, was the owner of a large pleasure boat.

Taranto the "task force" set up by the carabinieri identified a 71-year-old unemployed person who received citizenship income despite being the owner, together with his wife and cohabiting son, of 17 cars and a motorcycle, including a BMW, 1 Mini Cooper, 3 Jeeps, 2 Smart and a Kawasaki Ninja.

Talsano (TA) one beneficiary of the benefit was the owner of 4 vehicles, two of which are luxury vehicles. In addition, an income earner was part of a family unit which, in the last three years, had declared incomes of € 324.000, 143.000 and 164.000 respectively.

In province of Caserta a person belonging to a family unit whose members were owners of two businesses with an annual income of approximately € 150.000,00 had asked for citizenship income. In the same province, a person has falsely certified that he has no property even if he is the owner of several properties.

Castelfranci (AV) a 22-year-old son of a municipal employee made a fictitious change of residence, establishing a separate family unit, while remaining to live in the same house as his mother who owns a farm producing wine grapes particularly valuable.

Ad Avigliano (PZ), the carabinieri referred 5 people to the AG of Potenza, one of which earner of citizenship income despite exercising work as a manager of a dance school.

Campobasso a young 19 year old has applied for admission to the benefit of the Citizenship Income despite being the owner of three properties, not declared.

crime

In province of Naples a 41-year-old recipient of Citizenship Income at the time of the request had failed to say that he was subjected to detention, although he was under house arrest complete with a perfectly functional electronic bracelet. In the same province, among other 80 subjects were reported, all contiguous to organized crime, who with omissive declarations managed to obtain 852.515,91 euros of illegal perception of citizenship income.

Bari Palese a well-known multiple-judge (arrested last month in execution of a precautionary custody order, for theft) had requested and obtained the citizenship income despite being hit by Special Public Security Surveillance, having failed to communicate the existence of the preventive measure to his load.

San Pietro Vernotico (BR) a senior representative of the Sacra Corona Unita, failing to communicate that he was subjected to the measure of home detention, managed to receive the Citizenship Income.

Unavailable

Campobasso four foreigners have applied for admission to the benefit of the Citizenship Income, falsely declaring that they reside in reception facilities where they had been guests but now closed and from where they had left for an unknown destination, so much so that they were also canceled from the municipal registry for "unavailability";

Canosa di Puglia and Trinitapoli (BT) the irregularities that emerged concerned both EU and non-EU foreign citizens, who falsely declared that they had met the requirement of residency in Italy for over 10 years, actually having been present for much shorter periods, or even already canceled in the registry because they cannot be found for years, but artfully reappeared and rewritten only for the purpose of submitting the application aimed at obtaining citizenship income. Still others, once the income was obtained, were canceled from the municipal registry because they were unavailable or returned to their country of origin, returning to Italy about once a month exclusively in order to be able to spend and monetize what was unduly received. There have also been cases of numerous subjects who have declared that they are part of families composed of 15-20 people allegedly residing in the same house, but in reality unavailable or non-existent due to the registry office.

THE DATA

According to the INPS, on 30 April, 387.076 families were recipients of the subsidy in Campania, Puglia, Abruzzo, Molise and Basilicata. The carabinieri checked the requirements of 87.198 subjects belonging to 38.450 beneficiary families (9,9% of the total). During the operations 4.839 irregularities were found (equal to 12,6% of the checks carried out) and 3.484 people were referred to the Judicial Authority in a state of freedom (9,1% compared to the number of households checked). Of the latter, 38,4% are subjects already known to the Police, including 2,6% (90) burdened with convictions or precedents for associative crimes. The law enforcement action showed that, in the period and in the territory controlled, the irregularities found generated 19.112.615,72 euros unduly received.

Among the subjects referred in the entire operation, 60,2% are men (2.097) and the remaining 39,8% are women (1.387). Furthermore, 59,4% of those deferred are Italian citizens (2.071), while the remaining 40,6% are foreign nationals (1.431).

Campania. In the territory of the Region, against 245.611 households receiving the subsidy, the Carabinieri Legion it controlled 9.327 beneficiary families, for 25.296 subjects. During the operations, 2.806 irregularities were found (equal to 29,9% of the checks carried out) and 1.722 subjects were deferred in a state of freedom, 647 of whom were known to the Police Forces (75 for serious association crimes). Of the people referred, 63,3% are men (1090) and the remaining 36,7% are women (632). Furthermore, 60,4% of those deferred are Italian citizens (1040), while the remaining 39,6% are foreign nationals (682). The law enforcement action made it possible to clarify that, in the period under review, the total sum of € 9.379.796,36 was unduly received.

Puglia. In the territory of the Region, against 104.137 households receiving the subsidy, the Carabinieri Legion it controlled 16.571 beneficiary families, for 39.409 subjects. During the operations, 1.251 irregularities were found (equal to 7,5% of the checks carried out) and 1.055 subjects were deferred in a state of freedom, 379 of whom were known to the Police Forces (12 for serious association crimes). Of the people referred, 56,4% are men (595) and the remaining 43,6% are women (460). Furthermore, 62,8% of those deferred are Italian citizens (663), while the remaining 37,2% are foreign nationals (392). The law enforcement action made it possible to clarify that, in the period under review, the total sum of € 5.468.784,05 was unduly received.

Abruzzo and Molise. In the territory of the two Regions, compared to 27.632 families receiving the subsidy, the Carabinieri Legion controlled 6.445 beneficiary families, for 10.642 subjects. In the course of the operations, 383 irregularities were found (equal to 5,9% of the checks carried out) and 319 subjects were referred to the state of freedom, 163 of which were known to the Police Forces (2 for serious association crimes). Among the people referred 61,1% are men (195) and the remaining 38,9% are women (124). Furthermore, 59,9% of those deferred are Italian citizens (191), while the remaining 40,1% are foreign nationals (128). The law enforcement action made it possible to clarify that, in the period under review, the total sum of € 1.917.361,85 was unduly received.

Basilicata. In the territory of the Region, against 9.696 households receiving the subsidy, the Carabinieri Legion it controlled 6.107 beneficiary families, for 11.851 subjects. During the operations, 399 irregularities were found (equal to 6,5% of the checks carried out) and 388 subjects were deferred in a state of freedom, 149 of whom were known to the Police Forces (1 for serious association crimes). Of the people referred, 56% are men (217) and the remaining 44% are women (171). Furthermore, 45,6% of those deferred are Italian citizens (177), while the remaining 54,4% are foreign nationals (211). The law enforcement action made it possible to clarify that, in the period under review, the total sum of € 2.346.673,46 was unduly received.

SHEET OF SUMMARY OF THE MEASURE OF CITIZENSHIP INCOME

Legislative Decree 4/2019, published in the Official Gazette of 28 January 2019, introduced, among other things, the "Citizenship Income", as a measure of insertion or reintegration into the world of work, to combat poverty, with the aim also to promote social inclusion. The subsidy is granted to households in possession, at the time of submitting the application and for the entire duration of the payment (18 months, extendable by a further 18), of various requirements, including those:

  • capital [ISEE less than € 9.360; real estate property in Italy or abroad not exceeding € 30.000 (excluding the main residence); movable assets (deposits, current accounts, etc.) not exceeding € 6.000 for families with 1 member, € 8.000 for families with 2 members, € 10.000 for families consisting of 3 or more members. Furthermore, the applicant must not possess: ships and pleasure boats; motor vehicles registered for the first time in the 6 months prior to the application; vehicles with a displacement greater than 1.600 cc as well as motor vehicles with a displacement greater than 250 cc registered for the first time in the 2 years prior to the application];
  • of citizenship, residence or stay (be a citizen: Italian or of the European Union; from third countries in possession of an EU residence permit for long periods; stateless person in possession of a similar permit; resident in Italy for at least 10 years, the last 2 of which continuously);
  • judicial (not to be subjected to a personal precautionary measure, also adopted following validation of arrest or detention; absence of definitive convictions occurred in the 10 years preceding the request for "Mafia-type association, including foreign ones"; "Political-mafia electoral exchange"; " Massacre ";" Aggravated fraud for obtaining public funds ";" Association with the purpose of terrorism, including international or subversion of the democratic order ";" Attack for terrorist or subversion purposes ";" Kidnapping for the purpose of terrorism or of subversion ").