The governor of the Liguria region in Italy, which includes the port city of Genoa, was placed under house arrest on Tuesday amid a corruption investigation. Prosecutors allege that he granted political favors in exchange for money.
Giovanni Toti, the president of the Liguria region, is “serene and convinced he’ll be able to explain everything,” according to his lawyer, Stefano Savi.
A judge’s order accuses Toti of exchanging favors for money to fund four local elections in 2021 and 2022. The investigation also implicates members of Toti’s staff and Genoa businessmen, including some involved in the city’s vital port operations.
The Liguria regional government released a statement asserting that Toti had “always acted in the exclusive interests of Liguria.” The council appointed the region’s vice-president to temporarily handle all administrative duties.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio expressed his surprise at the decision to place Toti under pretrial house arrest, noting that such restrictive measures are rarely used in investigations of this nature, as reported by the LaPresse news agency.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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