The Court of Review of Naples upheld the appeal by prosecutors Henry John Woodcock and Francesco Curcio that Papa and Bisignani were involved in a criminal conspiracy involving the Italian public administration, justice system and secret services.
The preliminary investigations magistrate in the case had said it concerned a criminal association but not conspiracy, a ruling prosecutors appealed.
Papa, a member of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi`s ruling People of Freedom (PdL) party, was arrested in July and is being held in Poggioreale prison on the outskirts of the southern city Naples. Bisignani is under house arrest.
Late on Monday, investigating magistrates completed their probe into an earlier conspiracy, the so-called P3 secret association allegedly involving Italian instititions and graft over the awarding of public contracts.
PdL coordinator Denis Verdini and PdL Senator Marcello Dell`Utri and may all be ordered to stand trial for their roles in the alleged conspiracy.
Former junior economy minister and PdL coordinator for the southern Campania region surrounding Naples, Nicola Cosentino, former regional councilor Arcangelo Martino, ex-judge Pasquale Lombardi and Sardinian businessman Flavio Carboni could also face trial for slandering the region`s president Stefano Caldoro.
Carboni was detained in a Rome prison last July after his arrest by police in the Italian capital on corruption charges. Investigators allege he was involved in graft over the awarding of permits to construct wind farms power plants on the island of Sardinia.
Corruption charges in the case have been dropped against Sardinia`s regional president, Ugo Cappellacci, who is believed to have been pressured by Carboni and Verdini. He could still be charged with abuse of office, however.
(T.A045/H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
