Bribes in the Costa Smeralda: The Court of Appeals issues a shocking ruling: after 13 years, manager Mariano Pasqualone has been acquitted.
The former CEO of Sardegna Resorts had renounced the statute of limitations on the charge of having paid money to avoid checks in the main hotels in the area: the castle built by the investigators has collapsed.Per restare aggiornato entra nel nostro canale Whatsapp
He appealed the ruling declaring the crimes time-barred: manager Mariano Pasqualone had always sought a full acquittal, on the merits, from the very serious corruption charge . Today, the judges' decision arrived, after a 13-year legal battle. The Sassari Court of Appeal acquitted Mariano Pasqualone, CEO of Sardegna Resorts at the time of the events, of charges of having "influenced" the activities of the Arzachena Local Police "in order to prevent building inspections at the Romazzino, Pitrizza, and Cervo hotels." This is the result of the sensational investigation by the Tempio Prosecutor's Office, which alleged a corruption ring on the Costa Smeralda.
Criminal lawyer Antonella Cuccureddu, the manager's defense attorney, demonstrated that the payment of €75,000 to the Municipality of Arzachena to increase Local Police services could in no way be classified as corruption. The money, in fact, was paid into the coffers of the Municipality of Arzachena and not to the Local Police Commander, Giovanni Mannoni (now Chief of the Olbia Local Police), against whom all charges are therefore dropped.
This was a clear, obvious circumstance that should have led to an acquittal on the merits in the first instance. Also acquitted were the Qatari-controlled companies Land Holding and Sardegna Resorts, defended by criminal lawyers Federico Pezzani and Adriano Raffaelli.
Pasqualone stated in the evening: "Over these long 13 years, I have been faced with no fewer than seventeen charges, a burden of accusations that would have overwhelmed anyone and which have had a devastating impact not only on my life, but also on the lives of my loved ones. Today, the conclusion has finally been reached, and in this case too, as in all the previous ones, I have been acquitted: the charges have all proven to be blatantly unfounded. I thank my lawyer, Antonella Cuccureddu, who has assisted me exceptionally throughout these years, supporting me even in the darkest moments and helping me find the strength to move forward. I sincerely hope that no other citizen of this country has to go through such a devastating experience."