A large-scale operation of the Prosecutor's Office of Bologna and Guardia di Finanza led to the sseizure of goods for a total value of over 36 million euro as part of an investigation into theAcquisition by Conad of the Italian sales outlets of the French group Auchan (operation of 700 million euros), which took place in 2019. They are nine people investigated for corruption between private individuals and self-laundering, including the former CEO of Conad, Francis Pugliese, and the former CFO Mauro Bosio.
The charges: corruption and false contracts
The investigations started from a exposed presented by two cooperatives members of Conad, who have reported a alleged corruption scheme implemented by Pugliese and Bosio. According to the investigators' reconstruction, the two former Conad executives would have established a trust to receive payments from entrepreneurs linked to the acquisition of Auchan stores. In particular, there have been payments of over 3 million euros from transport and storage companies, and 11,3 million from a Roman entrepreneur living abroad, justified by consultancy services never actually carried out.
The investigation has highlighted how the funds were used not only for business activities, but even for personal purposes, including financing participation in the Mille Miglia with a historic car.
The role of Raffaele Mincione
Another central subject in the investigation is Raphael Mincione, a broker already involved in previous legal cases, including the case relating to the sale of a property in London on behalf of the Holy See. Mincione is accused of having transferred the sum of 11,3 million to Pugliese and Bosio, disguising the payment as a advice. These funds would have been used to acquire a part of Auchan's Italian sub-holding through a special purpose vehicle.
Mincione, through its corporate group based in Luxembourg, was also involved in the management of real estate funds who acquired the properties previously owned by Auchan for a symbolic price of 1 euro.
Conad declares itself an injured party
Il decree of preventive seizure involved over 36 million euros, divided into 28,64 million as corruption profits and approximately 8 million for self-laundering. Investigators are continuing to examine financial flows to verify how the illicit money was used in investment activities and to conceal its origin. The investigation, coordinated by the acting prosecutor Francesco Caleca and the deputy prosecutor Michela Guidi, is now examining other possible involvements, while Conad itself constituted itself as an injured party in the proceedings.
