Crazy expenses in Friuli Venezia Giulia, convictions for 5 directors confirmed on appeal but with almost halved penalties
Nine years after the investigation into the “Crazy expenses” recently paid regional councilors of Friuli Venezia Giulia comes the appeal sentence, with confirmation of five sentences, but with a noticeable penis. Virtually halved. The second degree ruling concerning Daniele Galasso, Gianfranco Moretton, Piero Tononi, Maurizio Bucci and Antonio Pedicini had been canceled in 2019 by the Supreme Court, which had thus ordered a retrial. The prosecutor’s investigation Federico Frezza had focused on the use of public funds allocated to regional groups between 2010 and 2012 for entertainment expenses. Since the cauldron also had expenses for dinners and personal purchases, the scandal had been considerable, involving a large part of the regional political class of the time. Galasso, former leader of the PDL, he was seen to reduce his sentence from 2 years and 8 months to 10 months and 6 days.
The former leader of the Democratic Party, Moretton, saw his sentence reduced to 11 months and 10 days (instead of 2 years and 6 months in the previous appeal). The calculation is the effect of the acquittal from the charges of participation in embezzlement contested to other members of the respective groups. They were also acquitted of reimbursements for which the real culprits were not identified. So in Galasso they are a remnant expenses due, for 257 euros, and to Moretton three expenses for 1,271 euros, with recognition of the particular tenuousness of the fact. the lawyer Luca Ponti, defender of both, commented: “We will appeal to the Supreme Court. The modest amount of money is such as to recognize the harmlessness of the conduct, given that out of four years of their political activity examined, only these expenses were contestable “.
The sentence of Tononi (former PDL) was reduced by 2 years and 10 days to 1 year 2 months and 10 days, following the acquittal for a refund regarding a trip to Milan and for having compensated the damage. Reduced penalty also for the former regional councilor and municipal councilor Bucci (former PDL): from 1 year 8 months and 20 days to 1 year 6 months and 10 days. Of the overall dispute for 43 thousand euros, the Supreme Court had confirmed the sentence for about 3 thousand euros, referring to Trieste the judgment on other expenses 43 thousand euros), for which he was acquitted. Reduction of ten days for Pedicini (former PDL), who was acquitted of a charge, with a final sentence of one year and 10 months.