ROME - Police have arrested a judge of the Tax Court of Rome after he took a 6,000-euro bribe from a lawyer in exchange for "fixing" the outcome of a court case.

 

The fiscal judge, Luigi De Gregori, repeatedly made telephone contact with a lawyer whose son was facing tax charges. However the lawyer had grown suspicious and decided to approached police on the matter, who then marked 6,000 euros worth of banknotes. 

 

When Signor De Gregori met with the lawyer to accept the bribe, he told the man: "Do not worry, I guarantee that it will positively resolve the appeal." Police then moved in and arrested the judge.

 

Corruption among judicial officials in not just exclusive to Rome, however, as 21 judicial officers in Puglia have been indicted on bribery charges.

 

The group of justices of the peace, lawyers, and intermediaries from Bari, Modugno, Bitonto, Altamura, and Corato have been accused of taking bribes to rig cases. Some of those involved had received oysters and champagne in exchange for granting favourable sentences, police sources report.

 

The trial is set to begin on Feb. 3 in Lecce.