Recovery Fund: five million euro fraud in Italy. Suspicions surrounding the mayor of Ceccano

Brussels – Bribes to secure Recovery Fund funds through artificial awarding of contracts: on this charge, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Rome, Italian state police conducted searches in Lazio and Campania, leading to seizures and arrests. Five civil servants, including the mayor of the municipality of Ceccano (Frosinone), are suspected of being involved in a criminal organization running a sophisticated bribery scheme that, so far, has allegedly disbursed five million euros in favorable contracts.

European prosecutors and the police suspect the creation of a conspiracy. Among the projects at the heart of the investigation were those awarded between 2021 and 2023 for earthquake-proofing works at the elementary school of Ceccano, public infrastructure safety improvements in the city, and a project on migrant reception and accommodation services. Also in the crosshairs is the mayor, Roberto Caligiore (FdI), who has been in office since 2020. It is alleged that part of the bribe paid by project beneficiaries was directly transferred to the association members, while another to shell companies managed by the suspects, who, in return, issued false invoices.

Following the move by law enforcement, the police executed precautionary measures against 13 suspects. These measures included the house arrest of ten suspects, while three were subjected to restrictive measures. There was also a freezing order for 500 thousand euros.

The discovery of alleged fraud against the European Union budget and specifically against the Recovery Fund, which is used to finance the post-pandemic recovery of member states, is not an isolated phenomenon for Italy. Last month,  another operation led to the freezing of 114 thousand euros in current accounts.