Corruption and procurement investigation in Benevento expands: 17 people under investigation

The Benevento Prosecutor's Office's investigation, sparked by the arrest last March of former municipal executive Gennaro Santamaria, is expanding. This morning, Carabinieri officers from the Provincial Command's Investigative Unit conducted a series of searches and seizures of 17 individuals, all under investigation, on various counts, in a proceeding alleging corruption, undue influence, receiving stolen goods, and illegal political party financing.

Investigators are targeting four managers and officials of the Municipality of Benevento, a former manager of the Campania Region, seven businessmen, four technicians, and two administrators of local authorities in the province.

The investigation started with the 4 euro bribe

The investigation stems from the arrest of Santamaria, then Chief of Staff of the Municipality of Benevento, who was caught by investigators shortly after receiving €4 in cash. According to the investigation, the sum was the first installment of a sum requested from a businessman in connection with the unblocking of certain procedures.

A passage that would have represented the starting point of a progressively broader investigative activity.

After his arrest, during questioning by the public prosecutor, Santamaria chose to cooperate with investigators, providing a series of statements that, according to the Benevento Prosecutor's Office, had "significant investigative significance."

Practices, contracts and competitions in the crosshairs

Based on the former manager's statements, investigators extended their investigations to numerous administrative procedures.

Among those being audited are several practices from the Urban Planning Office of the Municipality of Benevento, two procedures for the assignment of inspector roles, and one relating to the design of public works.

The investigations also focused on three procurement procedures for executive design and construction, four public tenders for staff recruitment, and five co-design procedures relating to the second sector, personal services.

Investigations also in other municipalities

The investigation was not limited to the Sannio capital. Investigators also examined procedures relating to the awarding of design contracts for hydrogeological remediation projects in the municipalities of Ponte, Frasso Telesino, San Giorgio la Molara, and Pietraroja, as well as at the Taburno Park Authority.

A series of proceedings and assignments that led the Prosecutor's Office to issue the new search and seizure orders executed this morning.

Towards the evidentiary incident

In parallel with the investigative proceedings, the Benevento Prosecutor's Office has initiated the procedure to request the investigating judge to hold an evidentiary hearing, aimed at examining the statements made by Santamaria.

This is a passage destined to assume particular significance in the investigation, given the weight given by investigators to the former manager's statements.

The involvement of the European Public Prosecutor's Office

During the investigations, the complexity and trans-territorial dimension of the case also emerged. Some of the alleged crimes identified by investigators fall within the jurisdiction of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

For this reason, in conjunction with the measures ordered by the Benevento Public Prosecutor's Office, the Carabinieri are also carrying out similar actions delegated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, as part of an investigative activity conducted in close coordination between the judicial authorities.

The investigation remains ongoing and must now clarify the nature of the relationships between the various parties involved and the possible existence of a system of influence over public procedures. The allegations will need to be verified as the investigation progresses and in any subsequent procedural phases.