Webuild CEO Cleared: Italian Court Dismisses Dam Misappropriation Case

An Italian judge dismissed a case against Webuild CEO Pietro Salini and others over alleged misappropriation of public funds in a dam project. Lack of evidence and permissible emergency rules led to the dismissal. The case involved public funds and concerns from an environmental group.

An Italian judge has dropped the legal case against Webuild CEO Pietro Salini and three other individuals concerning the alleged misappropriation of public funds in a dam construction project, sources told Reuters. The decision was prompted by recent requests for dismissal from the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).

The case revolved around a 1.3 billion euro contract for building a dam near Genoa, largely financed by European and national public funds. The dismissal request and Salini's involvement were previously undisclosed. The EPPO's investigation found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, citing permissible emergency rules after Genoa's 2018 bridge collapse.

Issues flagged by Italy's anti-corruption authority ANAC included tender procedures but were resolved as administrative breaches without criminal relevance. With no evidence of misappropriation or further investigative leads, the court upheld the prosecutor's request for case dismissal.

(With inputs from agencies.)