Lawyer: jailed Fastweb founder tells prosecutors he had no role in €2 billion laundering

Lawyer: Fastweb founder denies role

ROME — Jailed Fastweb founder Silvio Scaglia told magistrates Tuesday that he had no role or responsibility in an alleged euro2 billion ($2.7 billion) global money laundering ring involving two Italian Internet and phone companies, according to one of his lawyers.

Scaglia told those leading the probe, including Rome’s top anti-Mafia prosecutor, that Fastweb’s conduct was “absolutely proper” and insisted there was no tax invasion, attorney Pier Maria Corso told reporters outside Rome’s Regina Coeli prison after his client was questioned for some two hours.

Scaglia sold Fastweb to Swisscom in 2007 and no longer has a role in the company.

He insisted that “his role wasn’t that of controlling every single commercial operation” at Fastweb, Corso said.

“Scaglia is confident his position will be recognized, that is, his absolute extraneousness from illegality,” said the lawyer.

Scaglia flew back to Italy late Thursday night aboard a private jet from the Antilles in the Caribbean and was jailed in Rebibbia prison on the outskirts of Rome. A police van whisked Scaglia from Rebibbia to Regina Coeli in central Rome.

Revelations last week about the probe shook Italy’s telecommunications industry. Telecom Italia has postponed approval of 2009 annual results amid the probe of its Sparkle unit.

Both Telecom Italia and Fastweb contend they were victims of a criminal organization.

Scaglia was one of 56 suspects named in the probe of what prosecutors say was a money-laundering scheme using dummy companies to carry out fake transactions between 2003 and 2007. The suspects are also accused of tax evasion.

The Fastweb founder also denied knowing key figures in the probe, including a senator from Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s party. The politicians, Nicola Di Girolamo, resigned on Monday while insisting he did nothing wrong.

Prosecutors allege the senator helped cover up the laundering and was elected with falsified ballots in a scheme involving the southern crime syndicate ‘ndrangheta.

Corso said he will seek house arrest for Scaglia. A judge must decide whether Scaglia should be released or stay in jail while the probe continues.