Anti-mafia head teacher arrested in Palermo

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 21 - One of Palermo's best-known anti-mafia figures, the head teacher of the Giovanni Falcone comprehensive school in the economically deprived Zen district, was arrested on Friday on charges of embezzlement and corruption as part of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
    Daniela Lo Verde is suspected of stealing canteen food, computers, tablets and iphones intended for pupils at the school and purchased with European funding.
    In all 12 people including the deputy head teacher Daniele Agosta are under investigation in the probe.
    Lo Verde and Agosta were placed under house arrest.
    Prosecutors launched the investigation after a former teacher at the school reported "despotic management of public goods by the suspect", investigative sources said.
    In 2020 Lo Verde received the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic from President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella for her activism during the start Covid-19 lockdown in support of families and students in difficulty.
    Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara ordered Lo Verde's "immediate suspension" and said that "psycho-pedagogical councillors will be sent to support the entire school community in processing what happened today".
    Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla expressed his "dismay" at the news of Lo Verde's arrest.
    "During my tenure as regional councillor for education, I got to know (her) as a particularly dedicated school leader," he said.
    "In light of today's events, it is incumbent on the investigations to take their course and I trust that they can unequivocally clarify the facts, for the good of the student community and the school, which has always been an important civil and social reference point in the difficult Zen 2 neighborhood." (ANSA).