(supersedes previous)(ANSA) - Rome, March 18 - Prosecutors
investigating former senior official at the transport and
infrastructure ministry Ercole Incalza said Wednesday the
suspect oversaw "systemic corruption" on a massive, endemic
scale.
Incalza was arrested Monday on suspicion of corruption in
connection with large-scale public works contracts worth
millions of euros.
"This is not a story of ordinary corruption but a scenario
of devastating, systemic corruption in the management of major
public works contracts," prosecution papers said.
They described "a criminal organization of exceptional
breadth that has affected the flow of State financing for at
least two decades".
Prosecutors said Incalza held on to positions of power for
over 30 years, de facto ruling the ministry currently headed by
Minister Maurizio Lupi.
"In spite of the fact that he retired at least a decade
ago, (Incalza) remains to this day at the head of a ministry
with the same decision-making powers (as a minister), albeit
under the guise of a singular job description as consultant to
the minister," Florence prosecutors wrote in their pretrial
custody request.
They added most of the actual building of public works is
usually carried out by "myriad subcontractors that are often
contiguous with mafia criminal elements".
For example, a contract to dispose of construction debris
from the new Florence TAV high-speed rail line went to companies
headed by a firm "that is close to the Casalesi" Camorra mafia
clan, according to prosecution papers.
Incalza probe sees 'two decades of systemic corruption'
Ex-official 'ruled infrastructure ministry for decades'