Police arrest 37 others in Rome mafia probe

Former mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno is among 100 people under investigation in a mafia probe that led to police making 37 arrests on 2 December, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

Alemanno is suspected of criminal association of a mafia nature – according to ANSA – and along with the other 37 suspects is being investigated for alleged crimes including extortion, usury, bribery, bid rigging, false invoicing, fraudulent transfer of assets and money laundering.

Police have seized documents from the Rome city council and the Lazio regional government as well as searching the home of Alemanno, who was mayor of the capital from 2008 to 2013.

The ex-mayor is a member of the right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party but formerly belonged to Silvio Berlusconi's now-disbanded Popolo della Libertà (PdL).

See related article on previous Alemanno investigation.