Roberto Vannacci investigated for embezzlement and fraud: «Indemnities not due and refunds for events never organised»
The period in which the general was in Russia as a military attaché was targeted, he said: «Don't worry, I will report to the appropriate places»
General Roberto Vannacci is under investigation by the Military Prosecutor's Office for embezzlement and fraud .
Corriere della Sera reports it. Under the lens of the judiciary is the period between 2021 and 2022, in which Vannacci was in Moscow as a military attaché, before the Kremlin decreed the expulsion of Italian diplomats and soldiers.
The investigators are targeting service allowances for family members illicitly received, expenses for benefits and for the organization of events and dinners that would never have been held.
The general, already the subject of an internal investigation by the Army after the controversy that erupted following the publication of the book "The world upside down", would have received the allowance for service abroad for the presence with him in Russia of his wife and daughters . However, according to the investigators, the family members were not there : inconsistencies would have emerged between Vannacci's self-certifications and the data found on the women's passports.
Parties and dinners. Vannacci obtained reimbursements for events and dinners for the "promotion of the country of Italy", organized in restaurants in Moscow and in his own home . Vittorio Parrella, listed among the participants, denied having ever been there and also questioned the actual existence of these organized events . Furthermore, among the reimbursement requests, there is one for a party that would have taken place in Vannacci's service accommodation on May 23, 2023, when the military had already been expelled from Russia.
Finally, 9 thousand euros spent on a BMW, apparently without authorisations . According to what the Corriere reports "in July 2018 the General Staff had authorized the sale of the car by 31 October 2018 and in any case when inefficiencies appeared that could require costly maintenance". However, Vannacci would not have respected the provisions. For this reason it was decided to entrust the dossier to the Court of Auditors "for the evaluation of any profiles of administrative liability and related damage to the treasury relating to the expenses incurred".
THE DEFENCE
«I don't talk about service issues with the press. I am very calm and will report to the appropriate places", declares the general .
«The news released today – explains his lawyer – appears to refer to office activities that can already be accurately reconstructed by the interested party and are also completely regular . Obviously, in compliance with the military code, all the necessary clarifications will be provided only in the institutional offices. Contrary to what is reported by the media, General Vannacci is absolutely calm, continues his dissemination activity and will present his considerations in the appropriate forums".
(Unioneonline)
