Mario Adinolfi, who had been under house arrest since July, has been jailed for aggravated and repeated fraud, unauthorized collection of savings, financial misconduct, and failure to file a tax return. The aggravated measure was implemented by the Finance Police of the Rome Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza, acting on behalf of the Prosecutor's Office, and is motivated by Adinolfi's use of social media, in violation of the provisions of the order placing him under house arrest.
"The adoption of the more stringent custodial measure," a statement explains, "arose from the repeated and systematic violation of the provisions of the original precautionary order, which prohibited the suspect from using, in any form, telephones, computers, or telecommunication devices, except for contact with his lawyer."
The investigations conducted "documented a number of repeated violations, involving the use of social networks, which have become crucial in the reassessment of the precautionary framework, with a further risk of repetition of the crime and the risk of tampering with evidence," the Guardia di Finanza adds.
The journalist had been placed under house arrest as part of an investigation stemming from complaints filed by individuals who had entrusted him with large sums of money in the belief that they were participating in a betting group called "Scommessa Collettiva," created and promoted through social media. However, they had not received (in whole or in part) a refund of the sums paid and the promised remuneration. At the same time, a precautionary seizure of over €400,000 was executed.
(Unioneonline)