Rome Prosecutors Target 13.5 Billion Euro Bridge Project in Escalating Corruption Probe
Rome prosecutors accelerated an investigation into a 13.5 billion euro infrastructure project to connect mainland Italy and Sicily, executing exhibition orders across multiple government ministries and corporate offices, ANSA reported. Carabinieri from the ROS special operations unit executed orders to obtain documents from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), the department for economic planning (Dipe/Cipess), the Stretto di Messina operating company, and the Eurolink consortium, according to Il Sole 24 ORE. Investigators focused their search on records and digital devices tied to corruption allegations that originally triggered coordinated searches on June 9, targeting figures including Tommaso Miele, former deputy president of the Court of Auditors, and attorney Giacomo Saccomanno.
Investigators Demand Court of Auditors Review Files
The latest investigative step centers directly on official filings transmitted to the Corte dei conti, the Italian Court of Auditors, for mandatory administrative oversight. Prosecutors issued exhibition orders to obtain documents prepared for two specific regulatory acts: the Cipess resolution numbered 61/2025 and ministerial decree number 190, signed on August 1, 2025, by Infrastructure Matteo Salvini and Giancarlo Giorgetti, as reported by RaiNews. While initial reporting from Il Sole 24 ORE referenced a Cipess resolution numbered 41/2025, subsequent updates from RaiNews, ANSA, and AGI clarified the designation as resolution number 61/2025. Magistrates are analyzing project procedures and escalating construction costs to determine whether modifications required entirely new public procurement biddings, according to ANSA.
Stretto Di Messina Cooperates with Authorities
Stretto di Messina Chief Executive Officer Pietro Ciucci confirmed full cooperation with authorities, stating that the company is providing all requested documentation while maintaining complete transparency and total estrangement from the matters under investigation, as noted by ANSA. Meanwhile, representatives for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport maintained that every administrative step remains necessary to advance the bridge’s construction schedule as quickly as possible. The inquiry also examines allegations involving a late-October 2025 unfavorable administrative decision, which investigators suspect was reviewed in exchange for lobbying or prospective appointments to public oversight boards.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Stretto di Messina Investigation
Who are the primary individuals named in the Rome corruption probe?
Investigators have targeted several key figures, including Tommaso Miele, former deputy president of the Court of Auditors, and attorney Giacomo Saccomanno, who previously served on the board of the Stretto di Messina company and as a regional commissioner for the League party in Calabria between 2021 and 2024, according to ANSA.
What specific financial value is attached to the infrastructure project?
The overarching project to construct the Stretto di Messina bridge carries an estimated total value of 13.5 billion euros, according to figures released by ANSA during the judicial proceedings.
When did the initial wave of searches take place in this inquiry?
The current document seizures follow an earlier investigative phase on June 9, when Carabinieri executed search warrants to secure paperwork and electronic devices, including smartphones, from the primary suspects.
Worth a look