Business and votes in Lecce, arrests underway: no measures for former regional councilor Delli Noci

The Lecce Finance Police are executing the precautionary custody order issued by investigating judge Angelo Zizzari after the preventive interrogations of June 10 and 11 involving 11 people, accused on various counts and according to their respective responsibilities of criminal association in relation to the investigation into alleged favors in exchange for electoral aid. There are no measures for Alessandro Delli Noci, the former regional councilor for Economic Development who resigned during the interrogation also as a regional councilor.

The businessman Alfredo Barone, 69, from Biella (former mayor of Parabita), who according to the prosecutors Massimiliano Carducci and Alessandro Prontera was the linchpin of the system, ended up in prison. House arrest for his partner Marino Congedo, 82, from Galatina. House arrest for Maurizio Laforgia, an engineer from Bari, believed to be the intermediary between Delli Noci and the entrepreneurs. House arrest or interdictory measures were ordered for other suspects. The investigating judge did not recognize the existence of precautionary measures against Delli Noci, following his resignation.

The investigation reconstructs several alleged corruption episodes that concern not only the Municipality of Lecce but also the financing of the regional company Puglia Sviluppo and other local bodies in Salento.