Snooping gang danger to democracy says prosecutor

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 27 - An alleged computer snooping gang allegedly led by former supercop Carmine Gallo and Milan Fair Foundation President Enrico Pazzali that got confidential information on mostly business, but also some political and showbiz figures was a "danger to democracy", the Milanese prosecutor leading the probe said Sunday.
    -"It is not an exaggeration to say that these are individuals who represent a danger to the democracy of this country", said the prosecutor, Francesco De Tommasi, in investigation documents.
    The prosecutor spoke of "extremely dangerous individuals because, through the activities of illegal dossier-making" with "the creation of actual prohibited parallel databases and with the indiscriminate circulation of sensitive, confidential and secret information, they are able to 'keep citizens and institutions in their grip'" and "influence" "business dynamics and public procedures, including judicial ones".
    The gang even accessed the email account of President Sergio Mattarella, Italian TV reported Sunday.
    Among those whose confidential information was allegedly harvested were Paolo Scaroni, former CEO of Eni and president of Milan, Giovanni Gorno Tempini, number one of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and the banker Massimo Ponzellini.
    Also targeted were former Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti, and Roman singer-songwriter Alex Britti, police said. (ANSA).