PALERMO – The Mayor of Acireale, Roberto Barbagallo, is one of the eight people arrested by the Finance Guard in Sicily on corruption charges, investigators announced on Friday.

 Barbagallo, 42, was first elected to the Commune of Acireale in the city of Catania in 2014 with the support of the centre-left. He is a civil-engineering graduate of the University of Studies in Catania and first elected to the Acireale council in 2009.

 In recent years, he has been considered close to the Sicilia Futura, a breakaway from the Democratic Party (PD) in the region, and in particular it’s leading exponent, Nicola Agostino.

 The charges against the mayor relate to an alleged attempt to use his position to secure votes for D’Agostino, though the latter is not included in the investigation.

 Investigators believe they have a recording of Barbagallo speaking in a local dialect and asking for people to be to be scared so that they “come looking for me.” Barbagallo calls this “an electoral thing” in the recording, according to Meridio News.

 Five of those arrested are being help in prison, while the remaining three remain under house arrest. The warrants were issued as a precautionary measure by the Etna district prosecutor.

 Other political figures in Acireale have been caught up in the range of corruption charges, including the Councillor for Sport and Youth, Guiseppe Sardo, Head of Public Works, Giovanni Barbagallo, and Salvatore Di Stefano.

 Their arrests are linked to works that took place in the town of Acese. According to the accusation, the assignment of the designer for the re-development of an athletics track was rigged.

 Salvatore Di Stefano is said to have signed fake inspection reports for works on a cemetery in exchange for several thousand euros.  

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