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.
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