I Financial police from the Economic and Financial Police Unit of Palermo, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Sicilian capital, have executed a seizure order "for equivalent" for over 1 million euros issued by the Court of Palermo against 39 individuals investigated for forgery and fraud against INPS. The investigations, delegated by the Department of Public Administration of the Public Prosecutor's Office, originate from analysis activities of the spending flows of public bodies which were found to be anomalous, confirmed in certain internal verification activities of the inspectors of the National Social Security Institute. The investigations subsequently carried out brought to light a real illicit practice, almost a "customary" phenomenon, which involved dozens of people living in Palermo and the province who, using falsified medical documentation, benefited from special financial compensation due to patients affected by serious blood diseases (thalassemia major, thalassodrepanocytosis and sickle cell anocytosis). By cross-referencing data held by the Sicilian Regional Health Department and the Palermo hospitals, it was possible to identify patients who not only were not registered in the "Sicilian Register of Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies", which records those who, due to the nature of their pathologies, undergo periodic transfusions, but actually enjoyed excellent health. The mechanism of the scam was simple and sometimes crude. In fact, a medical certificate in the name of doctors, who had never actually signed it, and false stamps were enough. The documentation was then presented to the territorially competent INPS office. Obviously, the interest was not to benefit from the transfusions, which unfortunately people who are truly ill are forced to undergo, but to obtain the financial compensation due by law to workers affected by thalassemia major (Cooley's disease) and sickle cell disease who, having reached the age and contribution requirements, are entitled to an annual compensation equal to the minimum pension paid by INPS. In a first phase, the documentation of all the subjects (103) beneficiaries in the provincial territory of the allowance in question for a total of 1.624.882 euros was acquired from INPS. The Guardia di Finanza therefore ascertained, against 54 individuals, undue collections of 1,4 million euros, while – in synergy with the Guardia di Finanza – the INPS initiated the recovery procedures for part of the sums illegally obtained. With respect to some of them, the Public Prosecutor's Office of Palermo, fully sharing the investigative prospects, requested and obtained from the competent GIP at the Palermo court, the issuing of a precautionary seizure order, concerning financial availability, movable property and money up to the amount of the fraud committed by each defendant. Among the subjects reported, there are also two employees of the same Social Security Institute (one of whom is currently retired) with the aggravating circumstance of violation of the duties inherent to a public function, since they were assigned to the office that managed the related practices. In practice, they had self-assigned – directly or through their spouse, but with the same fraudulent methods – the same benefits provided for.
Article published on 14 June 2019 - 11:51
