Milan, the “Mensa dei Poveri” trial asked for 5 years and 6 months for MEP Lara Comi

Five years and 6 months in prison for Forza Italia MEP Lara Comi.

This is the request of the Milan prosecutor’s office in the “Mensa dei Poveri” trial born from the meeting of various strands of investigation into a maxi system in Lombardy of alleged bribes, contracts, piloted appointments and illegal financing.

In the bunker room in San Vittore, prosecutors Silvia Bonardi and Stefano Civardi read the requests of the public prosecution on about sixty defendants. Penalties of up to 9 years and 10 months are requested for the entrepreneur Daniele D’Alfonso, 7 years for the former municipal councilor of Forza Italia in Milan, Pietro Tatarella, 3 years and 3 months for Fabio Altitonante, former regional councilor and councilor in Lombardy.

Two years and a 30 thousand euro fine – but only for the accusation of illegal financing with a request for acquittal by the Prosecutor for corruption – for the then deputy of the “azzurri” Diego Sozzani, president of the Province of Novara in 2009.

The word passes to the defense before the judges of the sixth criminal section of the Court of Milan. The investigation that led to the trial was born from the figure of Gioacchino Caianiello, considered by the investigators to be the “great maneuverer” of the system reconstructed by the “canteen of the poor” investigation, and who negotiated a sentence of 4 years and 10 months in 2021 .

Among the demands of the prosecution also 4 years for Giuseppe Zingale, former general manager of Afol Metropolitana (the agency for training and job orientation), 6 years and a 50 thousand euro fine for Paolo Orrigoni, former owner of Tigros, organized large-scale distribution company against which the prosecutors have asked for a ban on contracting with the public administration for 4 years and 290 thousand between fines and confiscations.

For the former regional councilor Angelo Palumbo asked for 2 years and 3 months in prison and a 10 thousand euro fine. Among the 68 defendants in a trial that has already lasted almost two years of hearings, numerous requests for acquittal – for individual charges or complete – including that for the former mayor of Gallarate, Andrea Cassani, because the fact does not exist.