FLORENCE, ITALY – Seven people were arrested on Thursday as part of a probe into alleged bid rigging and corruption linked to next year’s Universal Exhibition in Milan.
The police operation connected with Expo 2015 will help to “cut the sick branches as quickly as possible to enable Expo to get going again as soon as possible,” prosecutors said.
In Lombardy region, a criminal network was uncovered that aimed to control contracts, including some related to next year’s world’s fair in Milan, by promising managers and public officials “career advancement via political protection,” prosecutors said.
The Expo Commissioner Giuseppe Sala was not involved in the investigation. Meanwhile, Milan Mayor Giuliano Pisapia said that it’s better to clean any criminal activity around Expo and remove bad apples now, rather than closer to the event’s opening next May.
On Monday, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said the Italian government is seeing “excellent results” when it comes to keeping organized crime out of Expo Milan 2015.
Expo 2015 to be held in Milan Italian city from May 1 to October 31 next year will involve the most famous Italian cities as Florence, Venice and Rome.
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