Arrests requested for former vice president Armao and lawyer Matta for corruption

The former vice-president of the Region Gaetano Armao, for whom the Palermo Prosecutor's Office has requested the arrest for corruption, was allegedly caught on several occasions by police "bugs" while pocketing bribes. In the investigation documents there are images of the transfer of money between the lawyer Pierluigi Matta, also under investigation, and the former vice president. According to the prosecution, Matta was the link between Armao and the entrepreneurs to whom he did favours. The money (generally in tranches of up to 6 thousand euros) was credited by bank transfer to the lawyer's account as compensation for consultancy never performed. Matta then took part of the money and gave it to Armao. Many of the deliveries took place by car.

In the frames, included in the arrest request for Armao and Matta (house arrest was requested for another 6 suspects, and a residence ban was requested for one), the lawyer is seen in the car with the former vice president. Taking advantage of a traffic slowdown, the investigators say, the lawyer "takes a wad wrapped in a plastic bag from the inside pocket of his jacket and, on Armao's instructions, puts it in the central compartment of the console", the investigators explain. "Put them here", the other tells him, avoiding a direct delivery. Armao comments on the choice of the bag used to store the money, comparing it to the garbage bag: "... in the garbage bag...", he says.

Immediately afterwards he asks Matta: "what is this for?" and Matta replies "August", making it clear that the donation was part of periodic payments of money. At that point Armao retrieves the envelope, takes the money and puts it in his jacket pocket. The bribe would have been compensation for favors done to the CVA group, a company that deals with renewable energy. In particular, the former politician in his role as president of the specialist technical commission for environmental authorizations under regional jurisdiction would have guaranteed "the most rapid and profitable treatment of the practices of the Aosta Valley company being discussed by the commission", we read in the arrest request. The bugs record, in fact, "explicit references to checks of compliance with environmental requirements relating to projects of new plants of interest to the CVA, with Armao inviting the counterparty to send him certification of compliance with the requirements received". "And send them to me... did you send them?", he asks. Then he reassures the group leaders: "...when you are ready, you make a note...what's it called...request...", and chooses the contact person in the commission to whom you will entrust it.