The Venice prosecutor's office has formally requested the indictment of Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and 33 others in a corruption investigation dubbed 'Palude'. The case, which has sent ripples through the political and business circles of the lagoon city, involves allegations of corruption tied to the sale of a heavily polluted area known as 'dei Pili'. The prosecutors, Roberto Terzo and Federica Baccaglini, have outlined the main charges, which include corruption against Mayor Brugnaro, the general manager and deputy cabinet chief of Ca' Farsetti, Morris Cerron and Derek Donadini, and former mobility assessor Renato Boraso.
At the heart of the investigation is the failed sale of 41 hectares of the 'dei Pili' area to Singaporean magnate Ching Chiat Kwong. The land, purchased by Brugnaro in 2006 before his political career for five million euros, was later valued at up to 150 million euros with promises of increased building volumes for skyscrapers, villas, a sports hall, a casino, and a retirement home. The deal, which never materialized, allegedly involved Claudio Vanin, a Treviso businessman who has become a key accuser in the case.
Further allegations include urban planning operations favoring Venetian entrepreneurs, construction projects near the airport, and contracts for the maintenance of municipal offices and software used by the city. The investigation has also brought to light a bribe of 73,000 euros allegedly taken by Boraso, disguised as a consultancy fee. The case underscores the challenges of governance and transparency in one of Italy's most iconic cities.
As the legal proceedings advance, the preliminary hearing for Boraso and three businessmen, who have opted for plea bargaining on 12 counts of corruption, is set for May 16. The outcome of this high-profile case could have significant implications for Venice's political landscape and its efforts to combat corruption.
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