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Italian Tourism Minister Faces Interrogation in COVID Fraud Case

Daniela Santanchè is set to testify in July following a judge's rejection of her bid to reduce charges related to alleged misuse of pandemic wage-support funds.

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Overview

  • Daniela Santanchè, Italy's Tourism Minister, is under investigation for aggravated fraud tied to alleged mismanagement of €126,000 in COVID-era wage-support funds at her former company, Visibilia.
  • A May 20 testimony by co-defendant Paolo Giuseppe Concordia claimed full responsibility for decisions on wage-support claims, aiming to absolve Santanchè of direct involvement.
  • Judge Tiziana Gueli rejected a defense request to downgrade the charge against Santanchè to a lesser offense, maintaining the accusation of aggravated fraud.
  • Santanchè's legal team announced that she will undergo questioning during the next hearing on July 9, when prosecutors are expected to formally request her indictment.
  • A separate trial involving allegations of false accounting against Santanchè and others is scheduled to resume on June 10 after procedural delays.