A 60-year-old Roman was arrested by
Carabinieri police from the capital's Porta Portese precinct for
allegedly lending money to colleagues and acquaintances in dire
financial straits with interest rates of up to 900%,
investigative sources said on Monday.
The man was placed under house arrest.
The investigation kicked off in 2022 after one of the alleged
victims, a 58-year-old who worked with the man, reported him to
the authorities.
He said that, in June 2018, when he needed money because his
partner and elderly mother were sick, he asked and obtained a
loan of 500 euros from the man.
After about a month, the 60-year-old said he wanted back the
money with interests.
The victim allegedly gave him a total of 20,000 euros over four
years to pay back the 500-euro loan at an interest rate of about
917.64%.
At least four other loansharking episodes were reported between
2019 and 2023,investigative sources said.
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