Twenty hospital morgue attendants nabbed for taking bribes

(ANSA) - Cagliari, May 9 - Police on Monday arrested 20 employees from five different hospital morgues on charges they demanded bribes from funeral homes in exchange for referrals. Another 148 suspects connected to more than 40 funeral homes are under investigation.
    Investigators say funeral home directors paid hospital morgue workers 20-200 euros for referrals, generating 500,000 euros' worth of business in two years as a result.
    The probe was sparked when one funeral home director refused to pay, reporting the morgue attendants to police instead.
    Those arrested work at five Sardinian hospitals: Brotzu, Businco, Marino, San Giovanni di Dio, and Santissima Trinità.
    They face charges including conspiracy, inducement to bribery, misappropriation, aggravated fraud, and forging public documents.