"I apologize because I wasn't paying attention to what was in my house while I was touring the country. I'm not in that co-op, but I will investigate everything as a deputy of the Republic".

Aboubakar Soumahoro, who ended up in the storm for the investigations into the pro-migrant cooperatives run by his wife and mother-in-law (the latter being investigated for embezzlement in a judicial investigation in Latina), defends himself in "Piazzapulita".

Under the lens of the Guardia di Finanza there would be alleged missed payments to employees and irregular contracts. The amount of unpaid salaries would be at least 400,000 euros, while 200,000 would have been distributed to the coop's management. Figures that question the choice of the partner to appear on social networks with expensive and designer clothes .

“Those pictures? They didn't embarrass me - said Soumahoro -. The right to elegance and fashion is freedom, fashion is neither black nor white . Then those images must be dated. My wife has her own life. He no longer works in the co-ops».

Soumahoro denied having ever used the donation money to finance his political rise: “Absolutely not, never. In fact, I even lost it». As for the coop «I didn't know about the investigations. I have committed a levity. But if I had been aware of a possible investigation I would not have even applied for it ». On failing to warn the party that the family ran reception centers "it's true, my family runs reception centres, but that management is about twenty years old and I met my current partner in 2018 when the coop already existed" . Faced with the delays in payments complained of by the workers - while the coops have so far defended themselves by explaining that they too would be awaiting transfers from the local authorities, and that is why the pay slips would not have been issued - "it had to my further insight . I don't forgive myself for limiting myself to this situation».

«Managing a coop is not a crime - he added - it becomes a problem when rights and working conditions and respect are not guaranteed. There was no embarrassment for me."
In one of those reception centers «I was and the conditions I saw did not correspond to the images that were seen . I should have not only improvised visits, but go and check around if what I had seen was the only condition. On the other hand, from the testimonies I have heard, and precisely in the light of these, I say: the workers have done well to claim their sacrosanct rights. Whoever made a mistake will have to answer for it ». Where there are offenses "it is I who entrust myself to the judiciary without raising the family shield".

Soumahoro then said he regretted the tearful video released on social media in recent days: "I would never make that video again, it was a weakness, I would like to apologize to all the people who know me, Aboubakar, for those tears".

Yesterday the deputy decided to suspend himself from the Alleanza Verdi Sinistra group . «I suspended myself because I firmly believe in the values of integrity - he explained -, but also out of respect and protection of the history that brings me here, which is not only mine but that of many thousands of people. That's why I came to this decision."

(Unioneonline/D)

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