Corruption investigation, accusations: "Shadow plan for property speculation with the City's favor"

More than 21 people are under investigation in the new urban planning investigation by the Milan prosecutor's office and the Guardia di Finanza, which has led to the request for six precautionary measures: two house arrest and four prison sentences. Among the names are councilor Giancarlo Tancredi , real estate mogul Manfredi Catella , and the former president of the Landscape Commission—a publicly appointed body— Giuseppe Marinoni . The latter is accused of wanting to implement a "shadow" master plan "with high fees": despite his public office, he received commissions from private individuals, bending the institution each time to the interests of the developers involved in "major urban planning and construction projects" in the city. Nine locations in Milan where the shady interests of public and private figures converge.

"Extensive property speculation"

Several companies are cited in the search warrant. Among them are Lendlease, EuroMilano, Hines, and Coima (di Catella), as well as publicly held companies such as ATM and RFI . " Tancredi favored and supported this conflict of interest," according to prosecutors Petruzzella-Filippini-Clerici, with the addition of Tiziana Siciliano. Confirmation, according to the prosecutors, is in the resolution (proposed by the councilor) that granted Studio Marinoni "free patronage from the Municipality" for the project "Milan Metropolitan Nodes and Gateways 2050." This plan received "the support and favor of the Municipality," and was "aimed at a vast real estate speculation operation managed by Marinoni and Tancredi at non-institutional levels through an urban planning 'strategy' for the detailed planning of vast areas of Milan's territory, located around nine nodes between the city and its hinterland."

“The councilor was trying to motivate the frightened officials”

So: Marinoni was pursuing this project as a "private" professional, paying "high fees," negotiating "in the dual capacity of public official and professional (...) with well-known finance and real estate development groups." Tancredi "received investors in his offices to participate in negotiations." And " trusting in Mayor Sala's support for rapid and concrete implementation, he suggested resorting to agreements" aimed at "justifying the public interest in the interventions." Furthermore, the councilor worked to "motivate" the municipal offices to express a positive opinion, given that the officials were " frightened by the volumes and heights proposed for the projects ."

The magistrates point the finger at nine areas of the city affected by "intensive real estate speculation": Cascina Gobba, San Donato, Baggio, Fiorenza, Famagosta, Linate, Opera, Assago, and Figino . Marinoni's conflict of interest also concerns the "issue of the works relating to the Meazza stadium and the surrounding areas of the San Siro district," given that the company J+S of Pella specializes in the construction of sports facilities: it built the stadiums of Cagliari and Atalanta and had received the contract to renovate the de Montel stables, to be converted into a spa, located in front of the stadium.

Pirellino, Councilor Tancredi "sponsor of Boeri and Catella." Thus the negative opinion has become favorable.

It is on the Pirellino project that the magistrates claim Tancredi "abused his powers as councilor ." He "induced" the Landscape Commission to change its opinion from negative to favorable toward the Catella and Boeri project, which "Tancredi was a sponsor of" and which had threatened "a breakdown of relations." With the alleged involvement of Mayor Sala, who, according to the documents, was contacted by Boeri himself. Tancredi, "in violation of his office duties, at the request of Catella and Boeri, interfered in the commission's evaluations by inducing President Marinoni to direct the commission to express a favorable opinion on the construction project called 'P39 Pirellino' and 'Torre Botanica', in order to ensure the utility and satisfaction of the economic interests of Catella and its designer Boeri , modifying the negative opinion already expressed by the commission regarding the impact of the volumes and other design inconsistencies."

In particular, Tancredi, "endorsing the demands of Catella and Boeri, who threatened a 'breakdown' of relations if approval was not obtained, and reporting that 'obviously' Mayor Sala had also been informed by Boeri to secure his support, pressured Marinoni to have the commission express a favorable opinion." This, "following repeated pressure," occurred on October 5, 2023: the commission granted the green light, "an essential requirement for obtaining building permits." As requested by Tancredi, who "sponsored the interests of Catella and Boeri." The protagonists in this affair are charged with undue inducement to give or promise benefits.

The Price of Corruption: A €138,000 Consultancy with Private Clients

And the "Pirellino," the skyscraper housing municipal services and later sold by Palazzo Marino, is at the center of one of the corruption allegations. They concern Catella, Marinoni, and Scandurra, another member of the Landscape Commission whose arrest warrant has been requested. Scandurra allegedly received "paid design assignments" in exchange, in his capacity as a public official, for his approval of the projects. " Scandurra receives fees from Coima worth at least €138,000." Thus, he didn't abstain when major plans were being discussed at the City Council: the Pirellino, specifically, or the Porta Romana plan, or an agreement on the railway yards.

Funding for project guidance: Scandurra has over €2.5 million in invoices.

Architect Scandurra is also under investigation for corruption for having received at least €279,000 in invoices for professional services from Andrea Bezziccheri 's Bluestone group (for which a prison sentence is being sought). Once again, he was undermining his role as a member of the Landscape Commission when it was necessary to discuss projects already under investigation or on trial: from the famous "Hidden Garden" in Piazza Aspromonte—the cornerstone of urban planning inquiries—to the Park Towers on Via Crescenzago (investigation currently in preliminary hearing). And Scandurra received €2.5 million in invoices—this too is considered corruption—from Paolo Massimiliano Bottelli of Kryalos Sgr, "being illicitly remunerated for his duties as a public official."

Business, earnings and consulting

As stated in the search warrant, Tancredi is charged with "corruption for an act contrary to official duties" along with Giuseppe Marinoni, former president of the Landscape Commission, and architect Federico Pella, manager and partner of the J+S company (the prosecutors have requested prison sentences for both of them). Marinoni allegedly placed himself at Pella's disposal to secure professional assignments and real estate projects, in exchange for "consequent business deals and profits." To do so, according to the charges, he influenced administrative decisions on urban planning together with Tancredi , "who contributed to the implementation of the corrupt pact by facilitating" Marinoni and providing "specific support" for the "Metropolitan Nodes and Gates" deal, which received the patronage of the Municipality.

Among the projects cited, the subject of investigation, is the “Goccia” project, in the Bovisa district, for which Marinoni received 296 thousand euros .

The corruption incidents

Marinoni was president of the Landscape Commission, a municipal body that has already been the target of investigations. This body, supposedly a consultative body, has proven crucial to the city's urban planning strategies. The former head "acted in a total conflict of interest," which he "falsely denied," all "in concert with Councilor Tancredi," who last December "had Mayor Sala reappoint" Marinoni to the body .

Another alleged corruption case involves two well-known architects, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel of the ACPC firm. According to prosecutors, Giuseppe Marinoni , when he was president of the Landscape Commission, implemented a "corruption agreement with ACPC Architects srl" starting in December 2021. More specifically, Marinoni is accused of having "subverted the correct and free exercise of the Landscape Commission's evaluation function by favoring interventions proposed by the same company. Namely, the "I Portali Gioia 20" and "Tortona 25" projects. In doing so, he did not abstain during the sessions "in which" these proposals were examined, "participating in the discussion and guiding them towards approval." The compensation? "The consolidation," the prosecutors write, "of the previous financial relationship with the architect Citterio's firm and the fees received as fulfillment of the agreement amounting to 12,300 euros." Translated: Marinoni steered the Landscape Commission towards approving studio projects from which he received compensation .