Bolzano Entrepreneur Accused of Asset Stripping in Weight Loss Clinic Scheme

A Bolzano-based entrepreneur is facing accusations of orchestrating a financial scheme that led to the bankruptcy of three South Tyrolean weight loss clinics, allegedly siphoning off funds while failing to pay doctors and staff. The case, currently unfolding in the Court of Bolzano, involves allegations of intimidation, inflated asset sales, and a pattern of prioritizing personal financial gain over the viability of the businesses.

Allegations of Financial Mismanagement

The entrepreneur, a 50-year-old from Trentino, is accused of a “spoliation” operation involving the sale of company shares in the three slimming sector companies to himself and his ex-wife at a price significantly exceeding their actual value. The shares were reportedly sold for €2.3 million, despite a valuation of only €631,000. This maneuver allegedly allowed the entrepreneur and his family to collect approximately €1.48 million in liquidity, contributing to the companies’ subsequent collapse.

Judge Francesco Laus of the Court of Bolzano has ordered a seizure of the entrepreneur’s assets, up to a value of €2 million, as part of the ongoing civil case. Alessandro Smolei has been appointed as liquidator to recover funds to pay outstanding debts to banks and suppliers.

Intimidation and Control

According to court documents and wiretaps, the entrepreneur exerted significant control over the clinics, even in roles where he held no formal position. He allegedly made key decisions regarding hiring, firing, and treatment pricing, creating an intimidating environment for staff.

Reportedly, the entrepreneur intervened in commercial strategy, deeming a treatment price of €3,500 “degrading” and mandating a minimum price of €4,000-€4,500 to attract “wealthy” customers. He likewise dictated the order of payments, prioritizing arrears owed to himself and a collaborator before paying doctors and secretaries.

The entrepreneur allegedly sent intimidating messages to staff, warning of consequences for those who did not comply with visit quotas, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, dismissing anti-contagion measures as a “farce.”

Legal Proceedings

The entrepreneur is defended by South Tyrolean lawyers Thomas Menegotto and Stefan Thurin. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July. The court maintains that the unsustainable financial commitments undertaken were a primary cause of the companies’ failures.