Italy utility CEO, top regional politician arrested on corruption charges (updated)

Iren S.p.A.

07/05/2024 10:09

(Adds details)
       ROME, May 7 (Reuters) - The head of Italian utility IREN
 IREE.MI  and the president of the north-western region of
Liguria have been arrested on corruption charges, prosecutors in
the city of Genoa said on Tuesday.
    The arrest of Paolo Emilio Signorini, who took over as IREN
CEO last year, relates to his previous role as head of the Ports
of Genoa Authority, the prosecutors said, adding that he was
being held in custody.
    As part of the same investigation Giovanni Toti, the
president of Liguria, the region that includes Genoa, has been
placed under house arrest, the prosecutors' statement added.
    Toti is part of Noi Moderati, a small centre-right party
that is allied to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition.
    Toti is accused of receiving 74,100 euros ($79,725) from
prominent local businessman Aldo Spinelli and his son Roberto
Spinelli in return for a series of business favours - including
speeding up port terminal concessions for the Spinellis and the
granting of building permits.
    Signorini is accused of accepting 15,000 euros in cash from
Aldo Spinelli and other sweeteners including overnight stays in
a luxury hotel in Monte Carlo, the prosecutors said.
    Aldo Spinelli is well known in Italy as a former president
of Serie A soccer club Genoa.
    Matteo Cozzani, Toti's chief of staff, is accused of
striking votes-for-jobs deals with suspected members of a
Sicilian Mafia clan based in Genoa, the prosecutors said.
    Toti's office did not offer any immediate substantive
comment but said they would later release a statement about the
case. 
    Iren's shares on the Milan bourse were down by 2.4% as of
0830 GMT. It was not immediately possible to reach Iren or
representatives for Signorini a comment.
    ($1 = 0.9295 euros)

 (Reporting by Alvise Armellini in Rome and Emilio Parodi in
Milan
Writing by Keith Weir
Editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Andrew Cawthorne)
 ((alvise.armellini@thomsonreuters.com;))