(Alliance News) - Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè is stalling. The preliminary hearing for the fraud against the state, scheduled for today, could slip to a later date due to the change of one of her lawyers: out goes Salvatore Sanzo, in comes Salvatore Pino, who will flank Nicolò Pelanda.
As Il Fatto Quotidiano wrote Wednesday, the latter, who is engaged in another proceeding, could cause a postponement. Santanchè denied the change of lawyer, explaining that he only replaced the civil lawyer with a criminal lawyer.
The process of the trial is also complicated by the impending transfer of Judge Tiziana Gueli, who will move to another position as of March 31. If today's hearing is held, it will only be to set the next date, when some defendants may be questioned.
Court President Fabio Roia will have to decide whether to keep Gueli on the case or appoint a new judge, with the risk of a return to square one.
Santanchè and partner Dimitri Kunz are accused of wrongfully receiving EUR126,468 in Covid layoff benefits for employees of Visibilia Editore and Visibilia Concessionaria, who allegedly continued to work instead. The Court of Auditors dismissed the alleged fiscal damage.
Meanwhile, the trial for false accounting was postponed until April 15 while Santanchè is also under investigation for bankruptcy in the liquidation of Ki Group.
By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter
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