Mario Adinolfi arrested for fraud and tax evasion: judge deems him "dangerous"
The journalist and leader of the People of the Family party is under house arrest following a request from Rome's Public Prosecutor's Office. Unlawful fundraising of €4.7 million contested by the Guardia di Finanza.
Mario Adinolfi under house arrest: fraud, tax evasion and unauthorised capital fundraising
The journalist and leader of the People of the Family Mario Adinolfi has been under house arrest since this morning, following a request from Rome's Public Prosecutor's Office. As reported by tg24.sky.it, the measure was executed by the Guardia di Finanza: the crimes alleged are fraud, tax evasion, unauthorised exercise of savings collection activity and financial misconduct.
The "Collective Bet": a scheme of €4.7 million
At the centre of the investigation is the so-called "Collective Bet", a fundraising scheme from private individuals who were promised returns linked to sports betting. The investigation, conducted by officers from the Financial Police Section and the Economic-Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, began following a series of reports filed by individuals who had entrusted money to Adinolfi, believing they were participating in a "Betting Group" created and promoted through social networks.
According to the Guardia di Finanza's reconstruction, the initiative "attracted the participation of a considerable number of clients" by the "credibility of the person proposing it, the promise of high returns guaranteed in percentage terms well above those offered in the financial market, the use of alleged infallible algorithms and betting strategies". Some victims reportedly handed over sums exceeding €100,000 to purchase "shares" of participation, without obtaining the return of their capital or the promised remuneration.
From the reconstruction of financial movements in the suspect's bank accounts over the last five years, "the collection of over €4.7 million" has been established. Only part of such sums proved to be linked to sports betting activity, whilst the vast majority of funds received appears to have been used for other purposes: transfers to third parties and personal expenses for the purchase of watches, gold bars, foreign coins, paintings, boats and travel. Adinolfi is also alleged to have committed tax evasion of €400,000.
The judge: "dangerousness increased by the notoriety of the person"
In the custodial order, the preliminary investigation judge of Rome has defined Adinolfi as a dangerous individual, emphasising how "there is a concrete risk of reoffending with respect to new conduct of fraud, unauthorised capital collection, tax offences, presumably already underway". The activity, carried out "over an extended time period, involving a plurality of injured parties", demonstrates according to the judge "conduct characterised by systematic methodology". The dangerousness is "exponentially increased by the notoriety of the person and their media exposure".
The judge further notes "the intimidatory attitude assumed by Mario Adinolfi towards anyone who dares to oppose him" and points out that, in televised interviews on file, the suspect denied the debts contracted and declared the reports filed against him to be false — statements which the judge deems contradicted by the bank transfers executed and the emails exchanged between the parties.
The judge also recalls that Adinolfi "has a final conviction for defamation committed in 2019" and that, despite conduct protracted over 15-20 years in the context of the "Collective Bet", he recently created a new initiative called "Cristo Regna", already capable of raising over €3,000 using methods deemed analogous to the previous ones.
The risk of evidence contamination
Among the reasons for the house arrest is also the danger that Adinolfi, if left free, might approach the injured parties — some of whom are described as "vulnerable" due to compromised health conditions or financial difficulties — and induce them to retract, including through promises of money or economically valuable favours.
"The freedom of the individual could affect the genuineness of the evidence", writes the judge, highlighting how investigative activities are underway to gather statements from additional injured parties, acquire banking and tax documentation and reconstruct financial flows that are not yet fully clarified, "including with respect to possible other criminal offences".
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)