Casalnuovo, alleged illegal development at the I Platani residence: the investigating judge orders a new investigation.

New investigations are underway at the "I Platani" residence in Casalnuovo, near Naples, to determine whether the building was involved in an alleged large-scale illegal development. The investigating judge of the Court of Nola, Teresa Valentino, has granted the motion to dismiss the case and ordered the continuation of the investigation into the proceedings involving six people.

The case stems from two complaints filed in 2019 and 2024 by an owner of one of the properties, assisted by attorney Salvatore Barbuto. The complaints drew investigators' attention to the intended use of the apartments in the two buildings in the complex.

According to the documentation acquired during the proceedings, the structure was built for tourism and hospitality purposes. However, some properties were subsequently sold as residential properties, while others were leased for extended periods, effectively assuming a residential function.

According to the complaints, the homes were initially unfurnished and remained unused. Over the years, however, various owners sold some of the properties as homes or rented them out for long-term rentals. This transformation led to approximately fifty families living permanently in the buildings.

The crux of the matter, therefore, concerns the alleged change in use from tourism to residential. This is an issue that the Campania Regional Administrative Court (TAR) recently raised concerns about, examining the procedures adopted by the Municipality of Casalnuovo and the urban redevelopment of the complex.

Yesterday, the investigating judge rejected the prosecutor's request for the case to be closed, instead accepting the request submitted by one of the owners and ordering new investigations, to be completed within three months.

Investigators will now have to determine the true nature of the complex and whether the residence continues to be used for its original purpose or whether, over time, it has effectively been transformed into a private residential complex. The proceedings remain in the investigative phase, and the individuals involved are under investigation until a final sentence is issued.