Pressure, abuse and favours: this is how Mantovani exercised his power

There are several, serious alleged crimes in the 210 pages of the pre-trial detention order issued by the investigating magistrate Stefania Pepe against Mario Mantovani, who was arrested on Tuesday morning, and another 8 people including the councillor for the economy of Lombardy Region, Massimo Garavaglia (who is currently only under investigation).

The inquiry by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Giovanni Polizzi, has apparently confirmed the crimes of abuse of authority, extortion, corruption and bid rigging by the Deputy Governor of Lombardy. The “Pharaoh of Arconate”, as he was called because of his long experience as mayor and because of his economic and political power, which he exerted throughout the area north of Milan, and not only, has been charged with several episodes. He took on a numerous positions, from that of the Mayor of Arconate (which he held for two mandates) to that of senator, Undersecretary for Infrastructure, and Councillor for Public Health (recently taken away by President Maroni).

PRESSURE ON THE SUPERINTENDENCY – According to the magistrates, Mantovani, exploited his numerous positions and put pressure on the Superintendent for Public Works in Lombardy and Liguria, Pietro Baratono, to give the position of Sole Project Manager for work on school buildings back to Angelo Bianchi, who had previously been removed by the Deputy Superintendent, Alfio Leonardi (who had made the complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, that formed the basis of the investigation, ed.). Mantovani, together with his secretary Giacomo Di Capua, and Bianchi, apparently put pressure on the new superintendent until they got their result, and even proposed revoking some agreements stipulated with schools if Bianchi was not reinstated. Bianchi had been transferred to other roles, after his indictment by the Court of Sondrio, over a case of corruption in which he was involved.

CORRUPTION – Mantovani is said to have entrusted the architect Gianluca Parotti with designing the furniture for Palazzo Taverna in Arconate (thanks also to the presence of Angelo Bianchi, as Head of the Superintendency), with three contracts for engineering services for seismic risk evaluation and planning proposals for securing school buildings in the towns of Palazzolo sull’Oglio, Casalbuttano, Calvatone, Paderno Dugnano and Solbiate Olona, as well as the contract to renovate the ER in the hospital in Magenta and a contract for the hospital in Vigevano. In exchange, Mantovani apparently obtained several professional services for his own properties and for companies with which he is associated (companies registered to his children, his wife and other people from his entourage) practically cost-free, or, at least, at below market prices.

BID RIGGING – Mantovani is also charged with cancelling a tender worth €11million for the transportation of people who undergo dialysis in the local health authorities of Milan, Milan 1 and Pavia, for a period of 24 months. He and Councillor Massimo Garavaglia are said to have applied pressure in order to find a way to cancel the tender in which some associations close to Massimo Garavaglia had not taken part. This fact was promptly confirmed thanks to the collaboration of the Director of the Milan 1 local health authority, Giorgio Scivoletto.