ROME – Raffaele Marra, the former right-hand man of mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi, has been handed a jail sentence of three years and six months for corruption, judicial sources report.

 The former chief-of-staff reportedly received payments of up to 370,000 euros from housing developer Sergio Scarpellini in 2013, on the condition that Marra, also in charge of housing policy at the time, provided public contracting work.

 Scarpellini made payable two cashier’s checks, totalling 367,000 euros, to Marra’s wife, which were used to purchase an apartment on Via dei Prati Fiscali, judicial sources report. A judge has authorised the confiscation of the property in question, while 100,000 euros of the full amount has been payed to the municipal offices of Rome in compensation.

 Both men were arrested in Dec. 2016 and due to be put on trial in July of the following year, but Scarpellini’s ill health postponed proceedings. His death on Nov.20 brought Marra’s sentencing forward.

 While investigating Marra’s case, prosecutors found messages between the individual and Raggi pertaining to the promotion of his brother Renato to a managerial position. Raggi was later put on trial for allegedly making false statements about the appointment of Renato Marra, in which the messages found were used by prosecutors. The mayor was acquitted in Nov. 2018.