Gianni Alemanno got six years in jail for his corruption activity between 2008 and 2013, when he was a mayor of Rome.
The investigation proved that the former Rome’s mayor took part in the infiltration of organised crime into Italy’s capital and immediately vowed to appeal. The ex-official was sentenced to six years in prison Monday, according to The LocalItaly. Prosecutors said he also directed city funds to a cooperative run by another figure in the network of corruption. After revealing the court’s verdict, Gianni Alemanno said he is not guilty.
“I’m innocent, I have always said it and I will repeat it before the judges on appeal,” said the ex-mayor of the city from 2008 to 2013.
Being convicted of corruption, Mr Alemanno and his lawyers have launched an appeal as soon as they have read the ruling.
Rome: 2015 Mafia Capitale scandal’s loud echo
Four years ago, the 2015 Mafia Capitale scandal has been making headlines. According to the investigation’s results, there was a vast network of influence-peddling taking in criminals, businessmen and politicians. In all, prosecutors sent 46 defendants for trial. That-time mayor of Rome was also a part of the illegal schemes.
In 2015, Mr Alemanno was accused of having received more than 200,000 euros from various sources in return for appointing a key figure in the scandal to a senior post.
The head of the network was Massimo Carminati, a former far-right activist already convicted of membership of a criminal gang in the capital in the 1980s.
According to the indictment, his right-hand man was Salvatore Buzzi, the head of a cooperative that worked for the Rome city council. Buzzi served as an intermediary between the political world and the criminal network run by Carminati.
Both men were convicted on appeal in a separate trial in September 2018. Carminati was sentenced to 14 and a half years in jail; Buzzi to 18 years and four months.
