The administrator of an online tour operator was arrested by the Guardia di Finanza of Varese on charges of bankruptcy involving a travel agency in Gallarate, leaving travelers without assistance.
The investigation, conducted by the Busto Arsizio Public Prosecutor's Office, began following numerous reports from Italian citizens who denounced irregularities related to the purchase and use of travel packages sold by the agency.
Of more than 1.350 customers interviewed, the vast majority reported a common modus operandi, characterized by the unavailability of facilities shortly before departure, resulting in diversion to lower-category or dilapidated facilities.
Alternatively, trips were reported to be cancelled upon departure without reimbursement and without the possibility of contacting the travel agency, whose managers were untraceable.
The investigations of the Guardia di Finanza of Gallarate focused on the corporate management of the travel agency through the analysis of current accounts, reports of suspicious transactions by banks, the deficient documentation found and the testimonies of customers.
The investigation revealed financial transactions that led to the bankruptcy of the company, including agreements with Italian and foreign companies without tax documentation, uninvoiced transactions with excess and unjustified withdrawals, amounting in total to over 1 million and 300 thousand euros. Tax evasion was estimated at over 300 thousand euros.
The Public Prosecutor's Office of Busto Arsizio, following the report of the company's bankruptcy by the Guardia di Finanza, presented a request for judicial liquidation, which was accepted by the local Court.
This action allowed the activation of the compulsory insurance of tour operators, with which over 400 clients were compensated for an amount exceeding 650 thousand euros. Using the money obtained illicitly, the administrator, through the company, would have enjoyed a timeshare in Rapallo (Genoa), now acquired following the bankruptcy, and would have incurred various personal expenses not related to the business activity, including pay-TV subscriptions and expenses in sports facilities.
The two temporary legal representatives of the travel agency and the de facto representative were charged, with the latter arrested and taken to prison, given his previous involvement in the bankruptcies of other travel companies and the risk of recidivism.
Article published on 22 January 2024 - 09:44
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