Rome prosecution probes corruption in Messina Strait Bridge project

The public prosecutor’s office in Rome has opened a criminal investigation into alleged corruption and illegal disclosure of confidential information surrounding the Messina Strait Bridge project. Three people are under investigation: former deputy president of the Court of Auditors Tommaso Miele, lawyer Giacomo Francesco Saccomanno, and businessman Vincenzo Virgiglio. Prosecutors allege that the lawyer and the businessman sought to influence the Court of Auditors’ legitimacy review of the bridge by promising Miele future public appointments – including the presidency of the Antitrust Authority – in exchange for a favorable assessment.

Carabinieri of the ROS unit carried out coordinated searches on the suspects’ homes, offices and residences in Rome, the province of Reggio Calabria and Frosinone, seizing electronic devices and documents for analysis. The bridge concessionaire, Stretto di Messina Spa, stated through CEO Pietro Ciucci that it is “totally unrelated” to the alleged wrongdoing and pledged full cooperation with the authorities.

The investigation follows a negative Court of Auditors ruling in October 2025 that blocked the project’s approval. It has sparked political reactions: opposition parties have called for the resignation of the bridge’s management, and anti‑bridge groups have organized protests demanding a halt to the work.