Italy: Justice investigates Berlusconi's newspaper
The Milan daily newspaper "Il Giornale", owned by the family of head of government Silvio Berlusconi, has been targeted by the judiciary. Its editorial offices have been searched by the police.
The public prosecutor's office in Naples has launched an investigation into threats against editor-in-chief Alessandro Sallusti and his deputy Nicola Porro. Their homes have been searched. The two journalists are accused of collecting secret information about the industrialist president Emma Marcegaglia. This was after the latter had criticized the newspaper for its aggressive campaign against Gianfranco Fini.
In several telephone conversations with Marcegaglia's secretary, Rinaldo Arpisella, the two journalists are said to have used an aggressive tone in an attempt to change the head of the company's position. Marcegaglia had also recently made critical comments about the Berlusconi government. The two journalists had threatened to print information that could have damaged her reputation.
Sallusti reacted indignantly to the investigation and, according to SDA, instructed his lawyer to sue the Neapolitan public prosecutor Giandomenico Lepore for defamation of character. Berlusconi's daily newspaper has been waging a fierce campaign against Fini for weeks. His faction accuses "Il Giornale" of collecting and disseminating defamatory information about Fini with the help of the secret services.
In several telephone conversations with Marcegaglia's secretary, Rinaldo Arpisella, the two journalists are said to have used an aggressive tone in an attempt to change the head of the company's position. Marcegaglia had also recently made critical comments about the Berlusconi government. The two journalists had threatened to print information that could have damaged her reputation.
Sallusti reacted indignantly to the investigation and, according to SDA, instructed his lawyer to sue the Neapolitan public prosecutor Giandomenico Lepore for defamation of character. Berlusconi's daily newspaper has been waging a fierce campaign against Fini for weeks. His faction accuses "Il Giornale" of collecting and disseminating defamatory information about Fini with the help of the secret services.
