Northern League’s Bossi appears headed for trial
(ANSA) – Milan, November 29 – The former leader of the anti-immigrant Northern League appeared headed for trial after prosecutors said Friday that they had concluded their investigation into fraud allegations against Umberto Bossi and two of his sons.
Bossi, along with his two sons Riccardo and Renzo, are accused of fraud and embezzlement in the management of 40 million euros in public funds earmarked for the Northern League’s political operations. Prosecutors said that 10 people, including Bossi and his sons, were included in their probe that began last year into the misuse of party funds, a crime that allegedly began several years earlier.
Bossi, whose political career was based on railing against central government, graft and mismanagement, stepped down as Northern League secretary in April 2012 during the investigation that included former party treasurer Francesco Belsito.
Bossi, who in the 1980s spearheaded the movement that eventually became the Northern League, was allegedly involved with Belsito in irregularities in documentation to obtain reimbursements for electoral spending.
Bossi’s sons Renzo and Riccardo were accused of allegedly using party funds for personal use.
A number of high-profile League members resigned from their positions after it emerged that prosecutors in Milan, Naples and Reggio Calabria had launched probes into the party’s financing.