The former Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, ends up in the cauldron of inquiries: peculation e office secrets under the lens of the Prosecutor of Rome. The investigation, triggered by the complaint of the deputy Angelo Bonelli (Avs), will bring the file to the Court of Ministers, given the role of Sangiuliano until a few days ago. At the center of the tornado, his controversial relationship with Maria Rosaria Boccia, defined by some as a “ghost collaborator” of the former minister.
The regional prosecutor's office also Court of Auditors of Lazio, under the direction of the prosecutor Paolo Rebecchi, has decided to open ainvestigationThe aim is to clarify whether there have been treasury damages related to the entrepreneur's travel costs and other expenses that may have been paid with public funds.
Sangiuliano, who was replaced by Alessandro Giuli (former director of the Maxxi) after his resignation, says he is “happy” that the Court of Auditors is examining the matter. The former minister claims he can prove his innocence with a mountain of documents and maintains that “not a single public euro was spent” on the travels of the Campania businesswoman, with whom he was having an affair.
Trips, dinners and concerts: Did Sangiuliano use public money for Boccia?
The investigation took off in recent days, when Sangiuliano threatened to sue Boccia for defamation, and it was already understood that the Court of Auditors was preparing an investigation. Suspicions are focused on travel in a blue car, included elegant and even a stock at the Coldplay concert quality The Flight. Sangiuliano claims to have personally covered all the expenses, publishing receipts of trips paid for out of his own pocket and claiming that in some cases hospitality was provided by the organizers. However, Boccia counters that the costs were paid by the ministry, supporting his claims with notes and emails received from the former minister's secretariat.
The issue is further complicated by the use of the blue cars and the escort: while Sangiuliano claims that these vehicles were used only for short trips, Boccia claims that she was transported far and wide, from Rome to Pompeii and to private events that the former minister wanted to attend. Furthermore, investigators are trying to understand whether Boccia had access to confidential information e participated in official meetings, especially those related to preparations for the G7 Culture.
Now the magistrates must examine all the details to ascertain any abuse of public funds and establish whether the former minister is responsible. If confirmed, they could trigger sanctions, including compensation. At this time, the investigation is only just beginning and the details are being kept under strict confidentiality.
Updated at 11:52am on Tuesday 10th September
