27 arrests in Trenitalia kickbacks probe

ROME - Italian police Tuesday placed under house arrest 27 businessmen and managers of State-controlled train company Trenitalia for allegedly rigging contracts in favour of a Bari-based company.
The arrests were made in 13 provinces including Florence, Prato, Ascoli Piceno, Vicenza, Monza, Pavia, Milan, Turin, Bari, Pordenone, Verona, Genoa and Naples.
The investigation, known as ‘Espresso 2’ is the second part of the enquiry into rigged contracts involving Trenitalia.                                                                                 According to the inquest carried out by railway police, businesses supplying goods and services to the train company were able to control the profits of certain public contracts through the support of Trenitalia officials.                                                                                                                                                                                                          The company involved is an engineering company situated in Modugno (Bari) called “Meis” specialising in the repair of electrical machinery.                                                    Last October, 15 people were arrested and 42 were placed under investigation, due to allegations of controlling tenders involving the supply of train maintenance accessories. This included Guglielmo Del Vecchio, former chief owner of Trenitalia, who was arrested on the basis he was the ringleader in the scandal.However Espresso 2 has shed new light on the issue and Luciano Marzullo, co-owner of Meis is now also facing prosecution.  
Trenitalia has said it will "cooperate fully" with the investigation.