Pompei officials condemned over expensive gold gift to ministers

The Campania Court of Auditors has condemned two officials from the Municipality of Pompei for causing financial damage to the public treasury. The ruling concerns the purchase of two nine-carat gold keys, embellished with diamonds, valued at over 14,000 euros each.

The keys were commissioned as institutional gifts for former Culture Ministers Gennaro Sangiuliano and Dario Franceschini during their official visits to Pompei. The Court ruled that such high expenditure for representative activities was unjustifiable, citing a lack of proportionality and sobriety in the use of public resources.

The two municipal managers were held responsible for the administrative procedures and acts leading to the purchase. No responsibility was attributed to the former ministers; Sangiuliano voluntarily repaid an amount equivalent to the gift's value to the State Treasury, while Franceschini did not personally retain the key, which remained part of the Ministry's official heritage.