The investigation into the alleged ring of easy specialization diplomas in Romania is widening, and one of its protagonists is said to be the dentist from Cagliari, Tommaso Porrà, 41, who has been living in Timisoara for some time.
The police note
Arad Police (IPJ) in a statement announced that several searches were carried out in the county in recent days: "Officers of the Economic Crimes Investigation Service, under the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Arad Court, executed 6 house search warrants," it reads, "the activities were carried out in several locations in Arad and are aimed at gathering evidence in a criminal case in which investigations are underway into the commission of crimes of fraud, falsification of official documents and use of forgeries. From the investigation," the statement continues, "it emerged that an Italian citizen residing in Arad had facilitated several transfers of foreign students from a university in Arad to other universities in Italy, on the basis of false documents. With the same method, that is, through false documents, it would have been easier to obtain a specialist degree in medicine, without completing the specialization period." As a result of the activities, goods and documents "with evidentiary value, as well as an illegally held 9 mm caliber pistol" were seized.
The story
The complex story came to light in recent days. Tommaso Porrà is accused of selling medical specialization diplomas that were supposedly issued by a Romanian university. After being overwhelmed by the scandal, which broke out following a report on an Italian TV program, he gave his version when reached by phone: "I was filmed in a video, but it was all organized: I was an actor and now everything is falling apart on me." A reconstruction that takes into account denials that have already been released.
The accusation
"Eight thousand five hundred euros in university fees, four thousand a year for the Prefecture. And five thousand for me." A total of about thirty thousand euros. This is the sum that Porrà proposes while unaware that he is being filmed by a hidden camera. In front of him is the correspondent of the Rai Far West program, Tommaso Mattei who passed himself off as a parent who wanted to "facilitate" his son towards the qualification of "plastic surgeon." For Porrà it seems not to be the first time. He also shows a folder of precedents: "If they find this on me they will arrest me," he adds laughing, before emphasizing that he should have asked for more: "Because it is risky."
The scandal in Romania
The troubles for Porrà began after the broadcast. The University of Arad distanced itself. The local prosecutor's office immediately issued a statement: "The police officers of the Economic Crimes Investigation Service," reads a note reported by the local press, "have taken official measures and are carrying out checks to establish the entire situation and order legal measures." Porrà had built his career with years of work: "I came here because in Cagliari I would always have been the "doctor's nephew." Now I am "the Italian doctor." But they are destroying me."
The defense
Asked about the story, Porrà immediately made himself available: «If I had something to hide, I wouldn't have done it». His defense? «Actually, we had an agreement with the journalist: I lent myself». He claimed that it was a concerted set-up. Even if the purpose is not very clear. A version already denied by the correspondent: «All false», Mattei replied to the Romanian press, «Porrà would do better to confess how things are». The dentist from Cagliari did not want to go too far («my lawyer advised me to») but he saw the first ruins around him: «If there was the possibility of being able to have a place at the University, and there was, it has vanished. And for that reason alone, in January, they had spread the rumor that I was selling diplomas», he explained, admitting that some suspicions were already there. "My professor, who had told me about the possibility of joining last April, called me to tell me that there were problems related to those rumors." In the last few days everything has gone haywire: "They even kicked me out of the Digital Dentistry Society." The question is: what would have been the purpose of a set-up? "We agreed, the matter concerned certain private universities," the dentist from Cagliari reiterated, without explaining. Then he added: "But maybe it happened because I have done great things here." The magistrates are now working to understand whether he has also done illegal things, and according to the police note, they have widened the scope of action.