Genoa judge ratifies Toti plea deal

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 18 - A preliminary investigations judge (GIP) in Genoa on Wednesday ratified former Liguria governor Giovanni Toti's agreement to plead guilty to corruption and illegal party funding.
    GIP Matteo Buffoni ratified the deal between Toti and the State attorney's office to plea bargain a suspended sentence of two years and one month in jail, which were converted into a period of probation of 1,620 hours to carry out socially useful services.
    Toti will do community service for Genoa's chapter of the Italian anti-tumour league.
    Under the deal, he will be allowed to serve over 15 hours a week, not only in Genoa but across Italy.
    Toti was placed under house arrest in May in relation to a corruption probe regarding alleged bribes in which cash for an election campaign was exchanged for favours, including the extension of a port terminal concession.
    He was subsequently released from detention after he resigned as governor in July. Along with Toti's position, the case was also closed for the former chairman of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority Paolo Emilio Signorini, who had reached a deal with prosecutors to plea bargain a prison term of three years and port entrepreneur Aldo Spinelli who also agreed to plea bargain a term of three years and three months. (ANSA).