They were intended for the enhancement and conservation of Sardinia’s coastal heritage, but around two million euros of public money ended up in (private) trips and in the construction of (private) villas.
All the work of a criminal association promoted by a former pro tempore director of the Sardinia Coast Conservation Agency who, with the help of relatives and frontmen, set up 13 fictitious non-profit associations represented by various frontmen or unsuspecting people, and a joint-stock company.
Everything would have served to drain that public money for private trips and transfers, in the rental of a villa in Capri, in the purchase of goods, clothing and personal objects, and in four properties, including two villas with gardens in the province of Cagliari.
What happened
The financiers of the provincial command of Cagliari have carried out in the provinces of Cagliari, Rome, Florence, an order applying personal precautionary measures – issued by the investigating judge of the Court of the capital, at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office – against three people – now under house arrest – and a preventive seizure decree for approximately three million euros.
The suspects, five in total, are accused in various capacities of criminal association, embezzlement, impersonation, material forgery and self-laundering.
The investigations have reconstructed the dissimulations put in place to justify the outflow of public money in the form of contributions to associations to carry out projects and conferences – in fact never carried out – for the promotion of the culture, history and territory of Sardinia.
The case of public funds intended for the valorization of Sardinia’s coastal heritage ending up in the pockets of a few is yet another demonstration of how mismanagement and corruption can sabotage good intentions and exploit resources intended for the common good.
There are two million public euros, stolen to finance other things, while the promotion and protection of Sardinia’s culture and history have remained a dead letter. It is an affront to all those who see their money end up in the wrong hands, without ever seeing a return in terms of social or cultural well-being.
The investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office, launched thanks to the complaint of the current director, Maria Elena Dessì, could prove to be a starting point for bringing to light other irregularities, but the damage done is enormous. The system of corruption that emerges demonstrates, once again, how much more stringent vigilance is needed against the criminals who, armed with fake charity and phantom associations, continue to plunder vital resources for our future.
