The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has requested 16 precautionary measures, all house arrest, as part of an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of EU education funds. The case is rooted in Palermo but, according to investigators, extends to several regions, including Campania.
The new chapter stems from a case that broke three years ago in the Zen neighborhood: a school principal was placed under house arrest (and later reached a plea bargain) for alleged "skimming" of the canteen service and, according to the prosecution, for having steered purchases of PCs and tablets from an IT company in exchange for latest-generation cell phones and gifts for herself and her family.
The turning point reportedly came from the statements of a company employee, Alessandra Conigliaro, indicated by the documents as a crucial source for broadening the scope of the investigation.
The "perverse system" and its counterpart: the "treasures"
The new investigation, coordinated by European Deputy Prosecutors Calogero Ferrara and Amelia Luise, describes an alleged scheme in which public employees, professors, and university staff facilitated the awarding of supplies of goods and services to three companies: Informatica Commerciale SpA, R-Store SpA, and Databroker.
In exchange, according to investigators, the suspects accumulated "nest eggs" (as they called them), which they then used for personal purchases, especially cell phones and smart TVs. The proceedings highlight that, "in the face of discretionary administrative acts that were sometimes formally regular," "personal interests" prevailed over public ones, to the point of "subordinating the public office held to personal gain."
The corporate center of gravity: R-Store and the alleged roles
At the center of the investigation is R-Store SpA, an Apple Premium Reseller based in Naples with a network of over 32 stores in Italy, also active in the supply of educational goods and services to schools and universities. According to the investigation, the company operated through a team of local representatives headed by Mario Piacenti, identified as the liaison with local contacts (including Conigliaro herself).
Among the names considered central by investigators is CEO Giancarlo Fimiani, described in the documents as a sort of "deus ex machina" capable of exploiting relationships and connections to intercept tenders, even those of significant value, as in the case of the ITS "Mia Moda Campania".
The professors cited in the documents: Federico II, Cnr and ITS
The list of those under investigation includes professors and figures associated with prominent institutions. Among those mentioned in the investigation are Corrado Leone (Naples and Portici National Research Council), Luigi Cembalo (full professor at the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Federico II), Roberto Freda (research assistant, Federico II), Enrico Cafaro (professor at the Department of Economics and Statistics, Federico II), Carlo Palmieri (president of ITS Academy Naples), and Luciano Airaghi (head of the training center at the ITS Fondazione Minoprio).
The phase: preliminary interrogations and the preliminary investigations judge's decision
The request for a precautionary measure is now being examined by the Palermo investigating judge, who will decide after preliminary questioning.
Requests for house arrest
Luciano Airaghi, 56 years old, Rho
Enrico Cafaro, 64 years old, Naples
Claudio Caiola, 76 years old, Naples
Giuseppe Cangemi, 51 years old, Palermo
Luigi Cembalo, 58 years old, Naples
Antonio Fedullo, 52 years old, Naples
Giancarlo Fimiani, 66 years old, Naples
Roberto Freda, 50 years old, Avellino
Giuseppe Fucilli, 68 years old, Bari
Corrado Leone, 64 years old, Piano di Sorrento
Ettore Longo, 35 years old, Cuneo
Maria Rosaria Magro, 64 years old, Irsina
Cosma Nappa, 65 years old, Aversa
Carlo Palmieri, 65 years old, Naples
Mario Piacenti, 66 years old, Palermo
Vito Rinaldi, 33, Adrano Irpino
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
It seems to me to be a very complex story, still difficult to understand: the documents seem confusing and the responsibilities are mixed up, the teachers and the companies do not seem clearly affected, perhaps there is too much haste and judgments are already being made, we should check even more before tormenting people.