Head physician arrested in Rome, investigating judge orders house arrest

The Rome investigating judge has ordered house arrest for Roberto Palumbo, head of the Nephrology department at Sant'Eugenio Hospital. He was arrested and taken to prison recently while pocketing a €3,000 bribe from businessman Maurizio Terra. Terra's house arrest has been confirmed. The investigation is proceeding on corruption charges.

As the Rome investigating judge wrote in the order ordering the doctor's house arrest, Palumbo "controlled the allocation of patients to the various centers and directed them to reach the maximum allowed amount at Dilaeur, a facility in which he effectively holds a 60% stake." The judge—who described the alleged facts as "serious"—added that "Terra essentially admitted the facts, and even Palumbo, who had seemed more reticent during questioning before the prosecutor, ultimately admitted responsibility during the validation hearing."

"Restricting ourselves to the allegations," the judge adds, "the connection between the function" performed by the doctor "and the payment is clear, just as it is evident that Palumbo could facilitate the referral of patients, including to Dialeur, a company he effectively owned with a majority stake." In the ruling, the judge explains that "Terra admitted his responsibilities more transparently, provided evidence to fully reconstruct the facts, and demonstrated, especially at the validation hearing, that he was almost relieved by the emergence of the matter, which, in some way, allowed him to evade procedures and conduct necessary to carry out his work but also perceived as impositions. He clearly stated that the formal ownership of 60% of the shares was essentially imposed on him and had developed over time, a development he suffered and certainly did not want, as it did not bring him any benefit."

As for Palumbo, "he made statements that, however, allowed for a more accurate reconstruction of the facts. However, his conduct must be assessed as more serious because the charges reveal a consistency of behavior and, therefore, a stubbornness, indicative of a personality inclined to commit crimes of the kind under investigation," the investigating judge wrote, explaining that the head physician "declared he was not interested in maintaining his role as director of the facility, stated he wanted to leave the public sector, and yet, for years, he has maintained his position of power and continues to work in the public facility."