Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala addressed the city assembly on Monday, defending his integrity after it was revealed last week that he is under investigation in a major corruption probe tied to real estate and urban planning in Italy’s financial capital.
“My hands are clean,” Sala declared, adding: “Everything I have done during my two terms as mayor — an honour and a burden — has always been guided solely by the interests of the citizens. There is not a single act that has benefited me personally.”
Last Wednesday, prosecutors requested the arrest of six individuals, including Giancarlo Tancredi, Milan’s Urban Regeneration Chief, and Manfredi Catella, founder and CEO of real estate giant Coima.
The finance police have since searched Milan City Hall, as well as the homes and offices of Tancredi and Catella, seizing documents and digital evidence.
Among those reportedly under investigation is renowned Italian architect Stefano Boeri, while one of the central projects being examined is the redevelopment of the ‘Pirellino’ building in central Milan.
According to judicial sources, the case involves 74 suspects and includes charges of bribery, illegal construction, and undue inducement.
