Two Ticino police officers dismissed without notice – connection to Gobbi case
The canton of Ticino has dismissed two cantonal police officers for breach of official secrecy. The investigations also touch on an accident involving state councillor Norman Gobbi.
Dismissal without notice at Ticino cantonal police
The Ticino state council has dismissed two cantonal police officers with immediate effect. The canton announced this on Wednesday in an official media release, as reported by 20 Minuten. Both officers are currently the subject of criminal proceedings by the public prosecutor's office. Internal investigations established that the relationship of trust had been "permanently and irreparably" destroyed.
The first police officer is accused of breaching official secrecy: he is said to have passed confidential information to third parties. In addition, investigations are underway against him for property damage, obstruction of official action and a breach of the federal firearms and ammunition law.
The second officer is also suspected of breaching official secrecy and passing on confidential information. He is also subject to proceedings for abetting. The presumption of innocence applies to both individuals concerned.
According to the canton of Ticino, "the violations found are so serious that they justify the immediate termination of employment relationships". The findings demonstrated an "obvious incompatibility" with the duties of a police officer. The government's decisions are not yet final, and criminal proceedings are ongoing. The canton will not issue any further statements for the time being.
Connection to the Gobbi case
The starting point for the investigations was the suspicion that one of the two police officers had damaged a radar installation with gunshots in Monteggio TI. As the investigation progressed, the alleged procurement and disclosure of confidential information also came into focus – including information about an accident in the Leventina in which Lega state councillor Norman Gobbi was involved, as RSI reported in April of this year. Gobbi was the official SVP candidate for the Federal Council in November 2015 to succeed Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.
Source: 20 Minuten