VENICE: Mayor Giorgio Orsoni was arrested on Wednesday along with 33 other people in connection with corruption over the MOSE anti-flood barrier system.

 The defense of Mr Orsoni, who was placed under house arrest on Wednesday, say that charges are not credible: “The statements of accusation come from individuals who are already subject to other investigations.”

 It has been reported that top executives of the MOSE (Experimental Electromechanical Module) Company have accumulated bribes and black funds. At least 20 million euros was found in foreign accounts in Switzerland, supposedly transferred by Piergiorgio Baita, former manager of Mantovani, the main construction firm involved in the MOSE project.

 John Mazzacurati, ex president of the consortium, has also been placed under house arrest and was named the “great puppeteer.”

 A request has also been made for the arrest of Giancarlo Galan, former governor of Veneto and former Berlusconi minister. According to judicial sources, Galan allegedly received 800,000 euros in illicit funds from Consorzio Venezia Nuova, a consortium of private government entities responsible for safeguarding the Venetian lagoon.

 The MOSE investigation carried out by the tax police in Venice, which started approximately 3 years ago, was triggered by an investigation into bribery connected to the A4 highway road works.