Judicial administrator Corrado Schiaffonati walked out of a Piacenza courtroom cleared of embezzlement charges tied to tax and data processing consulting fees from the Dorini group bankruptcy. The court ruled definitively that the alleged crime simply did not occur, issuing an acquittal under the broadest legal formula available.
Piacenza Court Clears Judicial Administrator in Dorini Group Bankruptcy Case
Disputed Consulting Fees
Prosecutors had pursued a conviction carrying a requested sentence of two years and ten months. Their case rested on accusations that Schiaffonati paid bookkeeper Donata Rimonti over 70mila euro across a three-year span for unnecessary consulting services. These services were linked to five real estate companies operating within the wider Dorini corporate network.
The state argued that public funds were diverted for private purposes to favor an acquaintance. The Piacenza court completely rejected that narrative, clearing both Schiaffonati and Rimonti of wrongdoing.
Defense Points to Operating Surplus
In court, defense attorney Franco Livera dismantled the prosecution’s claims by presenting a substantial volume of documentation proving the services were fully rendered and properly executed.
Livera reminded the court that Schiaffonati stepped into a high-pressure situation in 2016 to rescue failing companies. Under his watch, the administration successfully liquidated 230 trucks and ultimately closed operations boasting an avanzo di gestione da 550mila euro. Federica Vola, representing Rimonti, echoed these points, emphasizing that the contested activities were duly performed for the relevant tax periods and that every cent of compensation received was entirely legitimate.
Sara Costruzioni Meccaniche Auction Charge Reaches Legal Limit
A secondary accusation against Schiaffonati—involving alleged auction tampering during the sale of Sara Costruzioni Meccaniche di Pontenure—avoided a full verdict when it ran out of time. The court formally declared a non-prosecution order due to the intervention of the statute of limitations.
Prosecutors had claimed that the administrator actively deterred higher bids, thereby harming the integrity of the sales procedure. The defense countered that Schiaffonati’s actions consistently aimed to maximize returns for the insolvency proceeding, operating strictly within the boundaries set by investigating judges and prosecutors.
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