Esselunga, one of the main distribution chains in Italy, is at the center of aoperation of the Guardia di Finanza (Gdf) which led to the seizure over 47 million euro for alleged tax fraud linked to the illicit supply of labour. The financiers of the Provincial Command of Milan are implementing "an emergency preventive seizure order" issued by the Public Prosecutor of Milan, against Esselunga for the total amount of 47.765.684,45 euros.
The charge concerns the alleged creation of fictitious procurement contracts for the administration of labor andissue of false invoices. The dispute concerns the period from 2016 to 2022 and involves not only Esselunga, but also five consortia of companies which in turn had several subordinate cooperatives. In addition to the company, the current financial director is under investigation Albino Rocca and its predecessor Stephen Ciolli.
Gdf: "Complex tax fraud"
According to the investigations carried out by the Economic-Financial Police Unit of Milan with the collaboration of the Sector for Combating Illicit Acts of the Revenue Agency, would have been carried out "a complex tax fraud characterized by the use, by the final beneficiary of the illicit billing mechanism for legally non-existent operations and the stipulation of fictitious tender contracts for the supply of manpower, in violation of sector regulations, which led to the issue and consequent use of non-existent invoices for a total amount of over 221 million euros, plus VAT exceeding 47 million euros” reads the note from the prosecutor.
Using filter companies
Esselunga would have adopted practices to "shield" employment relationships using intermediary companies e cooperatives. In some cases, i work relationships they would have been intermediated by "filter" companies which in turn make use of various cooperative societies, defined as "reservoirs". In other cases, the employment relationships would have been directly maintained with them "reservoir" company, who would have systematically failed to pay VAT and, in most cases, social security and welfare contributions. The reconstruction of the "labor supply chain" has highlighted these illegal practices, which are at the heart of the ongoing investigations.
Investigations still in the preliminary stage
The Gdf, in the press release, specified that the investigation is still in the phase of preliminary investigations and is proceeding with the searches against the persons involved, both natural and legal, in the provinces of Milan, Novara and Bergamo.
Esselunga replies: "Always operated in compliance with the law"
Esselunga responded to the accusations with a note, stating that it has always acted in compliance with the law. “The company immediately took steps to offer the broadest collaboration with the judicial authorities and full support for carrying out the activities. We confidently await the checks and insights, in the knowledge that we have always operated in compliance with the law", reads the brief company press release.
