President of Rome Municipality Council arrested on corruption charges

Marcello De Vito, President of Rome Municipality Council, as well as spokesman for the M5S movement, was arrested as part of an investigation into corruption in the issuing of tenders in the Italian capital.

De Vito’s arrest is a major blow for Rome’s embattled mayor and the governing M5S, who have made fighting systemic corruption in Italian politics a signature issue.

His arrest is connected to the building of the new Rome stadium and a nearby hotel near the old railway station of Roma Trastevere.

Prosecutors accused De Vito,of having taken bribes from local entrepreneur Luca Parnasi — who is currently under arrest and facing trial over the same case — to favor his project to build a new soccer stadium for the Roma team.

De Vito is also accused of accepted money and favors from two other building companies to favour their projects in Rome.

Via Corriere della Sera