From: apa
Bolzano – The Bolzano tax advisor and confidant of the fallen Signa founder René Benko, Heinz Peter Hager, must remain under house arrest after extensive investigations by the Trent public prosecutor's office into a “mafia-like criminal organization” became known. The investigating judge rejected a request for an annulment, Italian media reported on Saturday. However, Hager is allowed to go back to work and is not allowed to have any contact with public administration.
However, both Hager and a Bolzano official are entitled by the investigating judge in Trent to have contacts with the outside world or with people other than their lawyers, the daily newspaper “Corriere del Trentino” reported. Things are different in the case of the officer. They had also asked to go back to work – in another department of the community. But the court followed the recommendation of the public prosecutor, who expressly opposed it.
Trentino Freedom Court on the move
This meant that house arrest was lifted or replaced by a residence permit for only one of a total of eight people suspected of membership in a criminal organization – the mayor of the Trentino municipality of Riva del Garda, Cristina Santi. Now the ball goes to the Trentino Freedom Court, where those affected can challenge the security measure of house arrest. The negotiations are scheduled to take place until December 20th.
Hager is one of the group of people who have been under house arrest since last week in the wake of extensive investigations that also concern Benko. The Trent public prosecutor's office suspects Benko of being “the leader of a mafia-like criminal organization” created with the aim of obtaining concessions and permits in order to make unjustified profits, according to the investigation files.
Benko acted at the head of the criminal organization with the help of the Bolzano tax advisor Hager and an entrepreneur from the city of Rovereto, the judicial authorities said. Hager is also CEO of the Laura Private Foundation, named after Benko's daughter.
