Tuscan winery owner and entrepreneur Antonio Moretti, owner of the renowned Sette Ponti supertuscan winery, has been placed under house arrest by the public prosecutor's office in Arezzo on suspicion of money laundering as well as various offences such as tax evasion, and bankruptcy fraud. In addition, the authorities seized 179 properties, 500 hectares of land and vineyards in Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Sicily, 14 companies and the "Oreno" winery Sette Ponti. According to the Ansa news agency, three more persons have been arrested, among them Moretti's son Andrea and one of his most important advisors. In total, the police is investigating 16 persons for criminal association.
According to the Guardia di Finanza, the gang had specially hired straw men successfully position companies in the market and then run them into bankruptcy. They paid neither taxes, duties nor bank loans. After the insolvency, the gang founded new companies for the same purpose. According to the public prosecutor's office, the money thus embezzled flowed into new participations and companies in the wine industry, the textile business and the tourism sector.
(uka)