Former Milan urban regeneration councilor Giancarlo Tancredi asserted he “always acted in the city’s interest” during questioning today by preliminary investigations judge Mattia Fiorentini. The interrogation is part of an investigation into Milan’s urban planning management. Tancredi reportedly denied intentionally favoring Giuseppe Marinoni, ex-president of the Landscape Commission, and stated he never worked for personal gain or received benefits. Sources indicate he did not shift blame onto Mayor Giuseppe Sala, instead defending the mayor’s actions.
Simultaneously, former J+S manager Federico Pella, for whom prosecutors seek imprisonment, underwent over 90 minutes of questioning. Coima CEO Manfredi Catella, facing house arrest requests, also appeared for questioning. Defense lawyer Eugenio Bono, representing Marinoni, submitted a brief challenging the prosecution’s basis for preventive detention. Bono argued the prosecution presents “moral judgments rather than concrete evidence” and called the investigation’s scope “disproportionate,” framing it as “a trial against property speculation for the entire city of Milan.”
Marinoni himself exercised his right to remain silent during questioning. His attorney Bono stated, “There is no corrupt episode nor any system as outlined by the prosecution,” clarifying Marinoni will defend himself at trial. “We confined ourselves to the preventive detention aspects and will present our defense in the trial proceedings,” Bono told reporters.
Scheduled interrogations continued throughout the day:
Giancarlo Tancredi (requested: house arrest) – 11:45 AM
Federico Pella (requested: imprisonment) – 12:45 PM
Manfredi Catella (requested: house arrest) – 2:00 PM
Andrea Bezziccheri of Bluestone (requested: imprisonment) – 3:00 PM
Alessandro Scandurra, former vice-president of the Landscape Commission – Last scheduled
Prosecutors allege public officials falsified conflict-of-interest declarations and received bribes disguised as consultancy fees to approve projects like the Park Towers and Pirellino-Torre Botanica developments. Tancredi faces accusations of participating in a corrupt pact involving Marinoni and Pella, even without direct personal gain. His defense references his claimed “integrity.” Catella is expected to argue he exercised legitimate entrepreneurial rights and committed no wrongdoing, submitting extensive exonerating documentation.
Prosecutors Paolo Filippini, Mauro Clerici, and Tiziana Siciliano attended the hearings. Public officials involved maintain all Landscape Commission work was transparent, with recusals applied for any potential conflicts.
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