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June 28, 2019
A real "hidden code of conduct" operating in the university environment according to which the results of the competitions must be predetermined by the teachers concerned.
This is what emerges from the 'University banned' operation of the State Police of Catania which resulted, this morning, in the suspension from the service by the Gip of the rector Francesco Basile and nine other professors, under investigation for criminal association, corruption and auction disruption .
The investigations, coordinated by the Etnean Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by Digos from June 2016 to March 2018, revealed what the investigators defined as a criminal association headed by the rector of the University of Catania Francesco Basile and of which his predecessor Giacomo Pignataro would have been promoter, aimed at committing an indefinite number of crimes to alter the natural outcome of the competition notices for the awarding of grants, scholarships and research doctorates, for the recruitment of technical-administrative staff, for the composition of the statutory bodies of the University (Board of Directors, Evaluation Unit, Discipline Board), for the recruitment and career progression of university professors.
System also extended to other universities
The investigators underlined that the system is not restricted to the Etnean University but extends to other Italian universities - it was not disclosed which ones - whose professors, when they were selected to be part of the examining commissions, have always been concerned not to interfere with the choice of the future winner made in advance, favoring the internal candidate who prevailed even in cases where he was not deserving.
Among the suspects, in all 40, there are also those who have won the competitions.
Seventeen competitions that would have been rigged are for full professor, four for associate professor, six for researcher.
The other suspects are the Vice Rector Giancarlo Magnano di San Lio;
the former director of the Department of Political and Social Sciences Giuseppe Barone;
the director of the Department of Economics and Business Michela Maria Bernadetta Cavallaro;
the director of the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences Filippo Drago;
the director of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Giovanni Gallo;
the director of the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences Carmelo Giovanni Monaco;
the director of the Department of Law Roberto Pennisi;
the president of the coordination of the Faculty of Medicine Giuseppe Sessa.
Pm Zuccaro: system of atrocities
"The investigation has made it possible to reveal a system of atrocities that unfortunately stains our University in a very heavy way because it involves all the people of greater responsibility within it" said the public prosecutor of Catania, Carmelo Zuccaro.
"We have ascertained that this system, which saw the previous rector and the current rector at the top - he added - has polluted the voting system within the University for the appointment of the rector and for the appointment of the most important bodies. this system has perpetuated itself to condition numerous competitions of all departments ".
"A system - concluded Zuccaro - that I do not hesitate to define squalid because the people who are proposed are not the most deserving to win the title. When someone has the courage to propose themselves as a candidate for this position despite the head of the department having decided that its time has not come, these people are being subjected to heavy criticism, even retaliation by the head of the department "
Miur launches checks on teachers involved
Miur launches checks on teachers involved in the investigation into rigged university competitions.
"As soon as the news of the investigations conducted by the Catania Public Prosecutor's Office and the personal precautionary measures applied by the judicial Authority learned from the press organs - reads a note from the Ministry of Education - the Ministry of Education, University and Research immediately launched a check on the possible presence within the national scientific qualification commissions - or in any other type of institutional collaboration with the Miur - of university professors involved in the criminal proceedings. Upon the outcome of the investigations - continues the ministry - the necessary measures will be taken to suspend these collaborations with the teaching staff involved in the investigation. The Ministry of Education will also request a copy of the documents currently open to the investigation from the Catanese judicial authority, in order to become a civil party in the future criminal trial ".