Milan’s construction investigations will continue even as prosecutors ask a judge to end the corruption portion of a case involving Mayor Giuseppe Sala and 15 others.
Prosecutors asked a judge to close the alleged-corruption strand; the judge can grant the request or order further investigation, Reuters reported Nov. 10. The request covers alleged corruption in a wider examination of Milan’s construction sector; separate proceedings over suspected building and planning violations remain active.
The 16 people named in the case include property developer Manfredi Catella, architect Stefano Boeri and former urban planning councilor Giancarlo Tancredi. Prosecutors examined allegations of corruption, undue influence and false statements connected to project approvals. Sala and Boeri were not investigated for corruption, Reuters reported.
Reuters reviewed a 19-page filing in which prosecutors said their evidence offered no realistic prospect of convicting any of the 16 people. Prosecutors also cited Italy’s highest court, which they said had found that conflicts of interest, officials’ business ties to developers and planning irregularities were insufficient on their own to establish an exchange of benefits for official acts.
If granted, the request would close only the alleged-corruption strand. Reuters reported that trials concerning suspected building and planning violations are continuing, while other inquiries into urban-planning rules remain at a preliminary stage. Prosecutors had previously alleged in court documents that some redevelopment projects involved efforts to ease the issuance of unlawful building permits and enable highly speculative property deals. Those claims remain allegations.
The 2015 Expo world fair helped bring investors and developers to Milan as its property market expanded. Residents objected to a sharp increase in high-rise construction. Reuters reported that resident complaints were followed by probes into alleged permit abuses, which left construction activity in much of Milan at a standstill.
