Sicilian MPs 'spent cash on comics and jewellery'
A probe into a €10 million expenses scam in Sicily has revealed that dozens of MPs and their aides squandered cash on everything from designer underwear and Louis Vuitton bags to coffee capsules and comics.
Eighty-three politicians were formally put under investigation this week for misusing public funds, Tgcom24 reported.
After sifting through thousands of invoices, receipts and documents, police found a string of expenses not seen as essential to political life.
They included €7,000 spent on jewellery, while the bill for espresso machine capsules ran to €5,000. Politicians also appeared to believe comic books were essential work tools, spending €179 spent on the Diabolik comic, Tgcom24 said.
Other documents revealed public money spent on designer underwear, Hermes and Louis Vuitton bags as well as stays in luxury hotels.
The Sicilian expenses scandal is however not the first to surface in Italy in recent months.
In October, the regional council of Emilia-Romagna in central Italy was put under investigation for embezzlement. The local politicians allegedly spent public funds on everything from €500 pens to cheese.
READ MORE: Politicians exposed for toilet trips and cheese
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Eighty-three politicians were formally put under investigation this week for misusing public funds, Tgcom24 reported.
After sifting through thousands of invoices, receipts and documents, police found a string of expenses not seen as essential to political life.
They included €7,000 spent on jewellery, while the bill for espresso machine capsules ran to €5,000. Politicians also appeared to believe comic books were essential work tools, spending €179 spent on the Diabolik comic, Tgcom24 said.
Other documents revealed public money spent on designer underwear, Hermes and Louis Vuitton bags as well as stays in luxury hotels.
The Sicilian expenses scandal is however not the first to surface in Italy in recent months.
In October, the regional council of Emilia-Romagna in central Italy was put under investigation for embezzlement. The local politicians allegedly spent public funds on everything from €500 pens to cheese.
READ MORE: Politicians exposed for toilet trips and cheese
Don't miss a story about Italy - Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
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