To get BvTech spa a regional loan of 9 million (50% of the 18 million expected) as a contribution for the investment in Puglia of large companies, the then councilor for urban planning of the Puglia region,
Alfonsino Pisicchio
, and his brother Enzo, arrested yesterday, apparently agreed on an exchange of benefits which in the intercepted conversations they repeatedly call a "program contract". The agreement provides for the hiring of family members (Natale and Rebecca, children of Alfonsino and Enzo respectively) and political activists, payment for Alfonsino's electoral initiatives and Rebecca Pisicchio's graduation party.
'An ice cream' to get regional funds, hired as a reward
The price to be paid was an "ice cream" and it "had to be given" as a reward. Offering an "ice cream" meant hiring staff in companies that benefited from subsidies or million-dollar public contracts from the Puglia Region. This is what emerges from the documents of the investigation which yesterday led to house arrest the brothers Alfonsino and Enzo Pisicchio, the first former councilor for urban planning of the Puglia region and head, together with his brother, of the 'Democratic Initiative' and 'Bari al center'. Three other people were arrested with them, while two others were suspended from their profession for a year.
The illicit request, recorded by bugs placed urgently in a restaurant in Monopoli (Bari), was made on the evening of 4 September 2019. The dinner was attended by the insurance broker Cosimo Napoletano, who ended up in prison, and the lawyer Paolo Scarpa, contact person of the Venetian entrepreneur Diego De Fecondo, 60 years old (under investigation at large), owner of Nir. The company, which operates in the field of technological innovation, through a false surety policy prepared by Napoletano and the mediation of Enzo Pisicchio, received in 2019 from the Puglia Region 50% of a total contribution of 6.2 million to provide aid to companies for services for the digitalized management of systems.
Cosimo Napoletano - "complying with the instructions given the day before by Enzo Pisicchio", - it is written in the documents - highlights Pisicchio's interest in the affair ("a kindness for that gentleman who did everything if it was possible" "he is the Christian who really did ... he didn't ... he didn't ask for a cent ... and I know everything ... and I know what can be done"), therefore asking for "the right reward - notes the judge - for him, or the hiring of people recommended by him ("a favor we should do... give some hires to... [inc.le] there are thirty-six units".
The response to Napoletano's requests (on behalf of Pisicchio) emerges - according to the prosecution - further from the conversation following the meeting between Scarpa and Diego De Fecondo, during which the former summarized the meeting with Napoletano to the Venetian entrepreneur: "I have a message... of all, of all, I can tell you so you can already worry, of all those you met in Bari... which is the one you have to offer an ice cream to? ... an ice cream, comma, and said 'you have to give it to him!'. Here, this is the message, unquote. See you!".
"It is evident - summarizes the investigating judge - that during the meeting a peremptory request of utility had been formulated. De Fecondo, evidently reluctant to the requests received, comments: "But I also offer him a dinner, but after that he stops, because he risks going away bruised... okay, yes, yes, but I'll give him the ice cream with cream, in the ice cream shop though".
After the meeting between Napoletano and Scarpa, given the inertia of Diego De Fecondo, Enzo Pisicchio entrusted his disappointment to Napoletano: "I have the impression that there we are taking it in the nose as they say". But Napoletano reassures him: "I believe I have the situation in hand". Therefore, they let it be known that they would have spread news in the Region aimed at revoking the financing until the suspect Giacoma Punzo, mediator of the deal together with Pisicchio, obtained the sum of 90 thousand euros and the renunciation of 2% of the capital of Nir.
The charges contested for various reasons in the investigation are corruption, fraud, forgery, trafficking in illicit influence, illicit party financing, issuing false invoices and disrupting the freedom of auctions. According to the prosecution, the request for hiring was "a constant" in the work of Enzo Pisicchio, who exploits his knowledge in the Puglia Region to oil all the bureaucratic practices brought to his attention.