Milan Mayor Beppe Sala is under investigation in an urban planning corruption probe that has seen prosecutors request six arrests, according to major Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, and La Stampa. The allegations reportedly involve false statements regarding the appointment of Giuseppe Marinoni as president of the City Landscape Commission and improper influence concerning the ‘Pirellino’ project by architect Stefano Boeri and Coima Group chairman Manfredi Catella.
The investigation, initially focused on a single building constructed within a courtyard nearly three years ago, has escalated into a judicial earthquake shaking Milan’s city hall (Palazzo Marino). Milan prosecutors allege an “unregulated property speculation system” operated “undisturbed for years,” altering the city’s skyline. They have now requested the arrest of a city councillor on charges of corruption, fraud, and improper inducement.
Former city official and later Urban Regeneration Councillor Giancarlo Tancredi faces house arrest for alleged “systemic subservience” to financial groups. In a significant development, prosecutors also requested house arrest for prominent developer Manfredi Catella, founder and CEO of Coima, who stated: “Transparency and legality are fundamental for our group… and we will assert this with determination.” Arrests were further sought for Giuseppe Marinoni, described by investigators as a “fixer” and “lobbyist”; Alessandro Scandurra, another commission member; real estate developer Andrea Bezziccheri; and Federico Pella, manager at engineering firm J+S.
Prosecutor Marcello Viola stated the phenomenon “has assumed considerable dimensions.” Searches at Palazzo Marino revealed over twenty additional suspects, including architect Stefano Boeri – already involved in two other cases – who declared, “I am convinced that I and my studio operated correctly.” Investigators directly implicated Mayor Sala in court documents, citing “subversive degeneration” within the Landscape Commission allegedly exploited by Tancredi “in concert with Mayor Sala” to advance private interests with real estate finance groups via a “circular corruption” scheme disguised as public interest. Sala responded that the administration “does not recognize itself in the interpretation reported,” adding Tancredi is consulting lawyers.
Prosecutors allege the “deviated system” manipulated regulatory plan amendments, using justifications like “social housing” to increase building volumes and heights for corporate benefit. Tancredi allegedly provided political “cover” for Marinoni in a “corrupt pact” to implement a “shadow Territorial Government Plan (Pgt).” Marinoni is accused of securing “high fees” from Pella’s J+S firm, while Scandurra allegedly received up to €2.5 million. The probe scrutinizes numerous developments, including Bastioni di Porta Nuova, Porta Romana railway yards, and the former Pirellino-Torre Botanica project. Regarding Pirellino, prosecutors claim Boeri used “very resolute and commanding tones” in chats with Sala to secure commission approval.
A preliminary hearing judge, Mattia Fiorentini (who has ruled out flight risks or evidence tampering), will decide on the six arrest requests following interrogations scheduled for July 23rd. Justice Minister Nordio commented, “Before my reform, these people would be in jail and then questioned.”