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20 Precautionary Measures Executed in Naples–Bari High‑Speed Rail Corruption Probe

A judge ordered preventive seizure of alleged illicit proceeds to allow prosecutors to recover suspected gains from subcontracting fraud.

Overview

  • On Tuesday the Guardia di Finanza in Naples notified 20 precautionary personal measures that include 10 house arrests, several residence and reporting obligations, and multiple suspensions from public service.
  • The judge for preliminary investigations approved preventive seizure of alleged profits from corruption after prosecutors said a network used false invoices to generate cash for corrupt payments.
  • Investigators documented severe labour exploitation at the Grottaminarda site where 34 Egyptian workers faced shifts up to 20 hours, minimal rest, pay below contract minima, and safety and permit irregularities.
  • Technical tests on unfinished work showed concrete strength below project specifications, with some carotaggi measuring about 29–32 N/mm², prompting local work stoppages and inquiries into water addition and additive dosing.
  • The probe covers roughly €5.8 billion of Naples–Bari AV/AC contracts carried out by large consortia and subcontracts and could lead to asset confiscations, further suspensions, and deeper checks on PNRR‑funded procurement practices.