Caserta. Votes bought for 50 euros during the 2021 municipal elections. This is one of the aspects that emerged from the investigation that hit the Municipality of Caserta this morning, leading to the arrest of the councilor for public works, Massimiliano Marzo, two municipal officials, a municipal employee, and a businessman.
The five were placed under house arrest, accused of various counts of fraud, forgery, and corruption regarding the awarding of several public contracts.
The investigation, conducted by the Carabinieri of the Investigative Unit of Caserta and coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, began two years ago and concerns public works and procurement for road maintenance and public lighting.
According to the prosecution, in some cases, contracts were split to stay below the tender threshold and thus favor the colluding entrepreneurs. In exchange, the latter offered public officials various benefits, such as favors, car insurance payments, or construction work on private homes.
Furthermore, the use of building materials intended for public works in the company of which the investigated councilor was a 50% co-owner is contested.
"Throughout the period of monitoring of the suspects, collusions emerged aimed at directing the execution and management of contracts in exchange for promises or concessions of benefits," a press release states.
Regarding electoral corruption and vote-buying, it was clarified at a press conference that the "vote-trading" case does not involve the five people under house arrest, but rather one of the other 14 people under investigation who are not subject to restrictive measures.
The operation raises serious concerns regarding the widespread corruption and illegality within the Municipality of Caserta. Further developments in the investigation are awaited.
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