A system based on black funds, rigged tenders and a network of relationships built to guide public tenders in the most strategic sectors of the country is at the centre of a new investigation by the Rome Prosecutor's Office. The searches, performed by the Guardia di Finanza throughout Italy, they concern 26 Guests, among entrepreneurs, managers and officials, and have affected the Ministry of Defence, Terna, Italian Railway Network (FS Group) and the National Strategic Pole.
The investigation, which is part of a development of the line already opened on Sogei, and hypothesizes crimes of corruption, money laundering, self-laundering, bid rigging, and illicit influence peddling, with particular attention to public procurement in the technology sector, which is crucial for the management of the State's infrastructure and data.
Corruption and public procurement: what happened and who is involved
At the center of the system is the entrepreneur Francesco Dattola, considered by investigators to be the director of the system and de facto administrator of the Italian computer engineering company nsrThe accusation: False invoices for services never performed and money that was travelling between different companies, transformed into cash through the sale and purchase of luxury goods and then used for bribe officials e promote businesses of the group in the public tenders.
Alongside Dattola there is Stefano Tronelli, head of Tron Group Holding, active in strategic consulting, ICT, finance, and security. Tronelli's companies allegedly issued the false invoices and managed the transfer of the money. He also allegedly played a key role Antonio Spalletta, an intermediary capable of moving easily between the business world and institutions. According to what he learned Republic from the documents of the investigation, Spalletta would have also acted "through the real or boasted" intervention of political exponents, including the former Undersecretary of Defense and now Vice President of the Chamber who is not under investigation, George Mule, to promote the promotion of Pier Francesco Coppola a Air Force General, destined to lead the meteorological systems section of the IV Department, a strategic point for influencing procurement.
Rigged tenders and relationships with large companies
According to the Prosecutor's Office, the group could have influence public tenders already in the preliminary stagesi, having access to confidential information on the specifications or participating in their definition in order to favor certain companies. Among the procedures under examination is a large tender worth approximately 400 million euros Italian Railway Network, which would have been prepared thanks to the availability of privileged information. Also under scrutiny are contracts linked to Terna, with hypotheses of interference in the selection processes and in the purchasing offices.
The investigation also involves major technology companies. RedHat, multinational software company, is in the crosshairs with the country manager for Italy Rodolfo Falcone, accused of favoring Dattola's companies with institutional clients in exchange for financial advantages. Tim enters the investigation, with million-dollar supplies managed through an external distributor.
The involvement of the Defense and military circles
One of the most delicate aspects of the investigation concerns the Ministry of Defence, which also involved high-ranking officials. According to investigators, contacts between businessmen and military circles occurred during the initial phase of the tender process, influencing the definition of technical requirements before the official launch of the procedures.
Among the names mentioned is the general Francesco Modesto, while among the suspects there is also the Navy officer Antonio Angelo Masala, already involved in the main investigation. His name directly links this new investigation to previous developments and reinforces the hypothesis of a network of relationships extending even within institutions. In this context, the role of intermediaries is crucial, as they facilitated relationships between businesses and public decision-makers, helping to guide procurement and supply decisions.
The connection with the Sogei investigation and the previous arrests
The investigation is part of the Sogei case, a public company that provides IT services for the state. In October 2024, the former general manager Pauline Iorio He had been arrested while receiving a bribe of 15 thousand euros; during searches of his home, over 100 thousand euros in cash were found. Iorio then pleaded guilty to a three-year sentence of prison.
Those episodes represented the starting point for further investigative investigations, which led to the emergence of a broader system of alleged irregularities in the management of public procurement, particularly in the technology and information sectors. cybersecurity.
Searches and developments of the investigation
Le searches, carried out by the Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, involved homes, offices, and company headquarters throughout the country. Investigators are acquiring papers e devices IT to reconstruct the flow of money and clarify the relationships between the parties involved.
The investigation is coordinated by the magistrates Joseph DeFalco, Giuseppe Cascini, Gianfranco Gallo e Lorenzo Del Giudice, who are working to define the scope of the system and verify individual responsibilities.
