ROME - Public prosecutors in Naples have conducted search and arrest operations at the residences of former Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema and former CEO of Leonardo, Alessandro Profumo. They are suspects in a case of aggravated international corruption involving the sale of Italian vessels and military aircraft to Colombia.

 According to investigators, D'Alema acted as an informal mediator between Profumo and Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Fincantieri's Naval Vessels Division, and the Colombian government in the negotiations of Leonardo's M 346 aircraft and Fincantieri's corvettes, small submarines, and shipyard construction.

 Francesco Amato and Emanuele Caruso, in their capacities as consultants for international cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, with the assistance of Giancarlo Mazzotta, collaborated with D'Alema to facilitate and secure agreements worth a total value of over 4 billion euros from Colombian authorities.

 To achieve this, a sum of 80 million euros in commissions was to be divided between Italians and Colombians through the American law firm Robert Allen Law, headquartered in Miami and introduced by D'Alema as an intermediary for Fincantieri and Leonardo.

 Umberto Bonavita and Gherardo Guardo represented the law firm in Italy for this specific negotiation, according to the investigations.

 The illicit offer of 40 million euros to Colombian authorities would have been made by Amato and Caruso. Prosecutors have identified the former Foreign Minister and former Vice President of Colombia, Marta Lucia Ramirez; the head of the working group for presenting opportunities in Colombia, Edgardo Fierro Flores; and the delegates of the second commission of the Colombian Senate, German Monroy Ramirez and Francisco Joya Prieto, as recipients.

 Other recipients are still being identified.

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