Criminal association, corruption for an act contrary to official duties and disturbed freedom of auctions: these are the crimes accused of ten people who were reached by precautionary measures as part of an investigation by the Bari Prosecutor’s Office aimed at combating crimes against the public administration. The measures were carried out by the Guardia di Finanza, which investigated some tenders announced by the ASL of the Apulian capital for maintenance work in hospitals. Among those arrested are entrepreneurs and ASL managers. Numerous searches are also underway. The investigators of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bari and the soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza believe they have discovered a “widespread system of corruption” within the local health authority of the regional capital, leading this morning to the arrest of 10 people, 6 in prison and 4 under house arrest among officials of the same local health authority and entrepreneurs.
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The precautionary measures, issued by the investigating judge of the court, were carried out in the provinces of Bari and Taranto. They are accused, jointly and for various reasons, of criminal association, corruption for an act contrary to official duties, forgery, disrupting the freedom of auctions and illicit subcontracting. According to the Prosecutor’s Office “a disturbing picture of collusion and serial commodification of the public function would be revealed, revealing the existence of a pathological and systematic deviation from the principles of impartiality and loyalty that must inspire the action of the public official”. The in-depth investigations were conducted by the financiers of the Economic-Financial Police Unit through technical investigations, analysis of telephone records, observation, control and shadowing services. It would be a truly standardized system of criminal behavior implemented through the sharing of confidential information between public officials and entrepreneurs regarding the works to be carried out in the ASL structures, resulting, in some cases, in the disruption of the administrative procedure aimed at influencing the methods of choosing the contractor.
Of note, in particular, are the actions of a group of 6 people, also arrested for the crime of criminal association, which would be part of a real “scheme” reiterated on the occasion of the approval of administrative acts (for example variant assessments , compensation, etc.) or payment to the companies of the respective ‘States of Work Progress. Under the scrutiny of the investigators, the strategic offices of the ASL, in particular the ‘Clinical Engineering’ and ‘Health Construction’ operational units, within which the three arrested public officials allegedly operated in the management of public contracts included in the sector of competence pursuing the interests of a small circle of entrepreneurs, linked to them by a “corruption system” defined by the investigators as “unscrupulous” and “still ongoing”. For example, the interceptions would reveal an alleged bribe of 30 thousand euros paid following an appraisal for work at the ‘San Paolo’ hospital in Bari and another 30 thousand promised for the phase following the State Progress of Works. The public officials under investigation would have received various benefits “in violation of the principles of impartiality, transparency and conflict of interest”.
The following interception reported in the investigating judge’s order is significant: «yes, but here we don’t understand why the flow is only outwards»!… «the flow is always outwards… but there is no it’s no return…”. Or again «this one took us for the goose that lays the golden eggs, that is, this one is taking nu sacc d t’rnis (money) of cash from us… (…)». Among the various systems adopted by public officials to hide bribes, according to investigators, that of commissioning the purchase of valuable objects (for example jewellery, designer leather goods, etc.) as happened, for example, when one of the suspects involved, after having identified the item of interest on the internet would have provided an entrepreneur with information on how to purchase the goods online by printing the screen with the item’s reference code. This assumption is demonstrated by the following intercept, still reported in the order: «… so the site is Chanel and this is the thing… and the code is this one… then you have to go here… boh!. … how do you do it?)”. «…what did you decide for my earring? did you give him the code? Have you made any decisions? Or nothing? Love…”.
#Widespread #system #corruption #Tempo
**Interview with Dr. Giovanni Rossi, Public Administration Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Rossi. Recently, the Bari Prosecutor’s Office conducted a major operation leading to the arrest of ten individuals, including both entrepreneurs and officials from the local health authority. Can you shed some light on the significance of this investigation?
**Dr. Rossi:** Absolutely. This investigation is crucial as it highlights deep-seated corruption within the public administration, particularly in the health sector. The allegations of criminal association and corruption reveal how serious the issue is. It’s not just isolated incidents; it appears to be a systemic problem involving multiple parties colluding to undermine the integrity of public contracts.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned a “systemic problem.” What does this mean in the context of the allegations surrounding the ASL in Bari?
**Dr. Rossi:** A systemic problem suggests that corruption is not merely a failure of a few individuals but rather a widespread issue affecting the bureaucracy. The evidence points to a continuous, organized scheme where public officials and private entrepreneurs exchanged information and favors to manipulate public tenders. This runs contrary to the fundamental principles of transparency and impartiality that the public sector must adhere to.
**Interviewer:** The investigation involved technical measures like surveillance and phone interceptions. How effective are these methods in uncovering such malpractices?
**Dr. Rossi:** They are very effective. Technical investigations allow authorities to collect crucial evidence that can reveal the inner workings of corrupt schemes. İnterceptions can show the explicit agreements between parties, the flow of money, and the planning of corrupt activities. They are critical in establishing a clear link between actions and the charges of corruption.
**Interviewer:** Given the scale of the arrests and the allegations of bribery, what implications does this have for public trust in health institutions in Italy?
**Dr. Rossi:** This situation severely damages public trust. When citizens learn that officials are involved in corrupt practices, confidence in healthcare services and public institutions declines. Rebuilding trust will require significant reforms, increased transparency, and accountability. Public institutions must demonstrate that they are committed to combating corruption and ensuring fair practices.
**Interviewer:** as someone who studies public administration, what steps do you believe should be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future?
**Dr. Rossi:** It’s essential to implement stringent controls and oversight mechanisms in public procurement processes. Training for public officials on ethical standards and accountability is also vital. Additionally, encouraging whistleblower protections can empower insiders to report corruption without fear. Ultimately, a cultural shift towards integrity in public service is necessary, supported by strong legal frameworks to deter malpractice.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Rossi, for your insights on this critical issue. It’s vital for us to continue monitoring these developments closely.
**Dr. Rossi:** Thank you for having me. It’s imperative that we stay vigilant in promoting integrity within our public institutions.
