Crooked Italians make a meal of bribery evidence

ITALIAN businessmen accused of bribing politicians in exchange for contracts for a massive flood-prevention project in Venice had a novel tactic for evading police scrutiny: edible notes.

In the event of a police raid, their intention was simply to swallow the evidence.

The revelation, contained in a 712-page document compiled by prosecutors, added a farcical touch to a scandal that has reinforced the image of Italy as a country in which corruption is endemic among the political and business elite.

A member of the consortium building a à5.6- billion (about R81-billion) flood barrier for the lagoon city, told a consultant: “Write it on different paper, edible paper. You can swallow it if someone arrives one day. I’m not joking.”

The conversation was recorded by the police during a three-year investigation into the so-called Moses project, which involves building giant gates across the three inlets that connect the Venetian lagoon to the Adriatic, the first of which was completed last year.

The notes allegedly listed the politicians who received kickbacks from a à22.5- million slush fund in return for awarding lucrative contracts for the project, which is due to be finished in 2016.

The politicians are accused of using the money to finance their electoral campaigns and for personal gain.

This week, Giorgio Orsoni, the mayor of Venice, was one of 35 people arrested in connection with the scandal. He is accused of receiving à560 000 in illicit payments from the consortium but has denied the charges.