ROME - It has been revealed by Raffaele Cantone, President of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, that Rome's public transport company, ATAC, spent 2.5 million euros on outside legal counsel in the period of 2011-2015, despite having 21 in-house lawyers. 

  Cantone has sent Rome's accident-prone public transport operator a letter requesting board meeting transcripts and a detailed list of in-house lawyers currently working for ATAC.

    The letter is addressed to current ATAC President Roberto Grappelli, Rome Commissioner Francesco Paolo Tronca and former transportation councillor Stefano Esposito, who brought the situation to Cantone's attention in the first place.

    Five of ATAC’s former executives were indicted earlier this year on charges of nepotistic hiring and abuse of office.