Milan, corruption in the Sacco hospital morgue

In exchange for money, undertakers of the funeral directors were guaranteed free access to the mortuary and to the documentation relating to the deaths. The investigation – conducted by the local police of Milan and coordinated by the public prosecutor of the metropolis – which led to the interception and dismantling of a corruption ring in the morgue of the Sacco hospital starts from 4 exposed. The investigating judge Stefania Donadeo issued 3 precautionary measures disqualifying the suspension from the exercise of the public service for a mortuary operator of the Asst Fatebenefratelli Sacco and the ban on exercising the activity of funeral director for two employees of honor in Milan and Baranzate. One of the complaints is from the same general direction of the ASST, together with the others it was presented to the local police and transmitted to the offices of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In particular, confidential attitudes were denounced between the undertakers of the funeral directors and mortuary operators, who not only allowed the undertakers themselves access to the mortuary without the request of the relatives of the deceased (as required by the Company Regulations), but also gave them also the documentation on the deaths and received money in exchange. Conversations intercepted starting from February 2021, for the investigators, proved to be indicative of a widespread corruptive practice. In particular PNLC, mortuary operator in charge of public service (57 years), was constant in conduct contrary to the provisions of the ‘Company regulations for intra-hospital deaths and for access to mortuaries’ of Asst, received cash to carry out acts contrary to official duties: it communicated the deaths that occurred in the hospital directly to the funeral home, directed family members to specific funeral honors, boasting even non-existent agreements with the Municipality of Milan that would have guaranteed controlled prices, and allowed access to company staff funeral parlors at the mortuaries. (continues)