Iacolino against the seizure of money and phones: the countermeasures of the lawyers of the super manager fallen into disgrace

It will be a "hot" week for the investigation that has cast many shadows over the bureaucratic halls of the Sicilian Region. The lawyers of Salvatore Iacolino, the "prophet" of healthcare, are preparing the appeal to request the revocation of the seizure of the cell phones and the cash (90,000 euros) found during the searches ordered by the Palermo prosecutor's office. "We haven't filed the appeal yet - said lawyer Giuseppe di Peri yesterday to La Sicilia - but it's a matter of hours." The technical times are still open. Ten days in total.

Iacolino, former Director General of the Policlinico of Messina, decided to exercise his right not to answer last Friday. "A choice agreed upon with the defense - di Peri comments - since we have not yet had the opportunity to analyze the case file. We read excerpts of interceptions in the newspapers, but I assure you that we have nothing in hand. We do not know what the meetings at the center of the allegations are. Once we have consulted the documents, we will request to be heard by the prosecutors."

The accusations refer to the time when Iacolino held the position of General Director of Strategic Planning at the Department of Health of the Sicilian Region. A position he occupied until a few days ago. The charges are serious: external competition to the mafia and corruption. The bureaucrat allegedly "sponsored" companies linked to his fellow townsman Carmelo Vetro (convicted for being a member of the Favara mafia, in the Agrigento area) and introduced him to prominent figures in regional administration and politics such as the vice president of the regional anti-mafia Bernadette Grasso, the head of civil protection Salvatore Cocina, and managers of Sicilian health authorities. In exchange, the former MEP allegedly received funding for electoral campaigns and hiring of people close to him.

Iacolino, as he stated in an interview with La Repubblica and reiterated through his lawyers, swears that he only learned of the mafia conviction of the Favara boss when he was served with the search warrant last Tuesday. As proof of his "ignorance," he mentioned having met Vetro in a bar in the central area of Favara.

Regarding Iacolino's overwhelming power in healthcare, the Brothers of Italy had something to say even during discussions for the reshuffle of the Junta. This was reiterated by the Meloni commissioner Luca Sbardella, who also wanted to make a clear distinction: "I do not consider Iacolino a member of the Schifani government, I consider him a regional official." Almost a full support assist to the Sicilian governor, after the oppositions called for his resignation.

But let's return to the judicial front. Lawyer Ninni Reina, defender of the regional infrastructure director Giancarlo Teresi, is preparing the appeal to the Review Court to request release from custody. The preliminary interrogations before the Palermo investigating judge of the other suspects, including the businessman from Barcellona Giovanni Aveni, for whom a precautionary measure is pending from the prosecutors led by prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia, are scheduled for March 20.