Italian police have uncovered influence peddling over the purchase of 800 million masks from Chinese companies that have paid tens of millions of euros in commissions to Italian companies, she announced on Wednesday 17th February.
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"
The investigation focused on the purchase from three Chinese companies of more than 800 million masks of different types (surgical, FFP2 and FFP3) for a total amount of 1.25 billion euros, by the extraordinary commissioner for the crisis of Covid-19
”, an organization set up by the Italian government to fight the pandemic, the police said in a statement.
While this was not provided for in the contract established by the extraordinary commissioner, the purchases were made through "
the intermediary of several Italian companies which received tens of millions of euros in commissions from the Chinese companies concerned.
".
The police proceeded by order of the public prosecutor's office in Rome to seizures of a "
total amount of approximately 70 million euros
" against several people suspected among other things of "
trading in influence, concealment and money laundering. dirty money
”.
Among the assets seized are real estate located in Rome, luxury vehicles, jewelry and even a yacht.