FLORENCE - Several high ranking members of staff at the University of Florence are being investigated for crimes of fraud, abuse of office and criminal association, with the Guardia di Finanza on Friday beginning a search of the offices of the Careggi university hospital.

  Among those being investigated are the Rector of the university, Luigi Dei, and the Director General of the Careggi University Hospital, Rocco Damone. In total around 20 university staff are under investigation.

  The investigations begun more than two years ago into the alleged altering of competitive examinations by professors of medicine. Though the prosecution announced they were opening an investigation into supposed irregularities into medicine exams, the University of Florence still guaranteed their loyalty and assurance towards Dei. 

  The investigation is also concerned with the seemingly ad hoc allocation of university seats, and influence on the choice of contractors. 

  Investigative activity began in March 2019 - after a complaint by an associate professor - when a judge issued measures banning eight professors at Universities in Florence, Milan and Padua from teaching, though a few of these professors had this decision overturned in an appeal tribunal.

  In a note published by the University, Luigi Dei wrote, “every document considered useful was acquired by the judicial authorities for every appropriate evaluation. I am calm and confident that this affair can be clarified.

  This is not the first time that the University of Florence has been involved in scandal - four years ago several staff members were put on house arrest over alleged rigged exams.

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