Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi is
among eight people under investigation over the collapse of one
of three buildings in the town's Piazza Sagnotti during the
devastating August 24, 2016 earthquake, sources said Friday.
The accusation is culpable homicide.
The collapse of buildings in Piazza Sagnotti claimed 19
lives.
They were among 299 killed by the quake, with most of the
victims in Amatrice.
Pirozzi won widespread praise for his work for the local
community in the wake of the quake and he is standing to be
Lazio governor in March's regional elections.
Pirozzi said he was innocent and said the news had come
suspiciously close to the election.
"I have nothing to do with the case and I feel the need to
observe that the probe was notified to me, coincidentally, 22
days before an important electoral date that sees me involved
personally: the regional elections of March 4".
He went on: "They want to destroy me but they won't be able
to".
"I note with amazement that a magistrate who is retiring on
March 1 has notified the end of the probe.
"All I am guilty of is of witnessing the destruction of a
community.
"It appears glaring to me that someone wants to destroy a man
but they won't succeed".
Pirozzi also quoted Gandhi, saying "First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
The head of the Italian mayors association ANCI, Bari Mayor
Antonio Decaro, voiced solidarity with Pirozzi and said it was
"time to say enough: it isn't possible that a mayor, merely
because he is the most exposed terminal of democratic
institutions, the one citizens know directly and to whom they
entrust their most serious concerns at the most serious moments,
should become a personal target...answering for the effects of
any and all calamities".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
