7 professors arrested for corruption
Seven Italian University professors have been placed under house arrest and 22 others suspended from teaching following a nationwide corruption probe.
The Guardia di Finanza police said that “the professors, all experts in tax law, are accused of rigging promotions within the university system via reciprocal back-scratching deals.”
A total of 59 professors have been placed under investigation, including Augusto Fantozzi, a former finance minister and bankruptcy administrator for the Alitalia airline.
Fantozzi professed his innocence through his lawyer, who spoke to ANSA news agency.
Report says cronyism and a lack of meritocracy have long plagued Italian universities, and are often blamed for encouraging young academics to continue their careers abroad.
