A judge in Genoa on Thursday granted
former Liguria governor Giovanni Toti's petition to be released
from house arrest.
The decision means the centre-right politician can leave his
villa at Ameglia, near La Spezia, where he had been under house
since 7 May in relation to a corruption probe.
On Wednesday prosecutors had given their approval to Toti being
released from house arrest as, after his resignation as governor
last week, there was no longer the risk that he could re-offend.
He had had previous requests to be released denied on the
grounds that he could re-offend.
The case regards alleged bribes in which cash for an election
campaign was exchanged for favours, including the extension of a
port terminal concession.
Genoa prosecutors said Tuesday that they have requested an
'immediate trial', without any preliminary hearings, for Toti in
relation to the probe.
The prosecutors made the same request for the other prime
suspects in the case, logistics businessman Aldo Spinelli - the
former chairman of Genoa and Livorno soccer clubs - and former
Genoa Port Authority President Paolo Signorini.
Toti has said he is innocent and will be able to show his
management of the northwestern Italian region was clean.
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