Chinese mask contracts, a merchant under house arrest and interdiction measure for Mario Benotti and three other suspects

The investigating judge of the Rome Court ordered an arrest and another 4 precautionary measures as part of the investigation into the purchase of masks for the Covid emergency. The Ecuadorian businessman ended up under house arrest Jorge Solis, while four measures that prohibit the temporary prohibition ofexercise of commercial activities and the prohibition of holding positions or managerial positions in legal persons-companies (with a prohibition to carry out all related activities) were issued against the journalist Rai Mario benotti, Andrea Vincenzo Tommasi, Georges Fares Khouzam me Daniela Rossana Guarnieri. The position is that of illicit influence peddling in competition aggravated by transnational crime.

Investigations of the Financial police worries the credit lines, for a total value of 1.25 billion euros, made by the extraordinary Commissioner for the Covid-19 emergency Domenico Arcuri – not related to the investigation – in favor of 3 Chinese consortia for the acquisition of more 800 million masks of various kinds, carried out with the intermediation – not contracted by the aforementioned Structure – of some Italian companies, Sunsky srl from Milan, the Investment Spa, the Microproducts IT Srl and the Guernica Srl From Rome.

According to the surveys, compared to intermediation activities and related credit lines, companies received commissions for tens of millions of euros of the Chinese consortia entrusted with the supply of surgical masks, FFP2 me FFP3. Personal precautionary measures follow the preventive seizures organized, even on an urgent basis, in recent days for a total amount of approximately 70 million euros. For prosecutors, the seizure decree said “the conclusion of contracts” between the commissioner structure and Chinese suppliers “only find foundation in moral persuasion operated by Benotti, on the sole basis of personal relationship between him and Commissioner Arcuri “.

Between January and May they were 1,280 I phone contacts between the two. Prosecutors highlight “the informality with which they proceeded with respect to the agreements that should have occurred between the parties involved, before March 10 and therefore much earlier. national blockadedeclared on March 9. “At that time,” no standard is yet allowed exceptions to the contract code. “Not only.” The first contract of supply it was stipulated on March 25 – we read – when the structure of commissioners did not yet exist, at least officially ”. Today, however, “the facilitators were weaving the relations that would have allowed them the rich profits. “From the investigations,” it appears “that the Italian government” bought masks even at lower prices “and” in the same period of time “, while” the delivery flights took place between May and June 2020 when thehealth emergency it was in a downward phase. “