On Tuesday, the Italian Financial Police carried out raids at the offices of the Rome Department of Public Works and ASTRAL Spa, a company overseeing regional road management in Lazio. The searches are part of an extensive investigation into alleged corruption involving 75 public contracts, worth approximately 92 million euros, with 72.2 million euros allocated by the city of Rome. Many of these contracts, particularly 42 related to road maintenance and repairs, are linked to projects funded by the upcoming Jubilee of the Catholic Church, which begins in December.
As of now, 21 people are under investigation, including four municipal employees and one ASTRAL official. The key suspect, a businessman with ties to several companies, is already facing trial in Calabria for two separate investigations. The businessman allegedly manipulated public tenders by submitting false documents and using multiple shell companies to increase his chances of winning contracts. His companies are also accused of using substandard materials for road resurfacing projects, leading to quicker wear and tear on the streets, a persistent issue in Rome.
To cover up the poor quality of work, the businessman allegedly bribed public officials, including those responsible for inspecting the projects. In return, the officials are said to have approved fake progress reports and accepted bribes, including cash payments, gifts such as watches, and other favors, such as securing jobs for their children at the businessman’s companies. Two traffic police officers are also implicated for allegedly removing fines and unfreezing a truck carrying overlimit construction material in exchange for bribes.
The investigation spans several construction sites across the city, including major roads like Via della Magliana, Piazzale De Bosis, and Viale della Serenissima, as well as projects related to the Ryder Cup golf tournament held in Rome in 2023. One key project, aimed at improving traffic flow near the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, saw the businessman win a tender with an undercut bid of 3.3 million euros, almost a million less than the official estimate. Other projects, including those funded by the Jubilee, are also part of the probe.
In addition to the roadwork contracts, the investigation has uncovered irregularities in other public sector projects. These include a 44,000-euro contract for road signage maintenance by ATAC, the city’s transport company, as well as larger projects like a million-euro renovation of the Albergotti Auditorium. In response to the scandal, Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, announced an internal investigation into the city’s practices and the creation of a technical commission to review all the work performed by the implicated companies.
