ROME, July 22 (Reuters) - Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, chairman of defense and aerospace group Finmeccanica (Parent Company of Honolulu Rail Contractor Ansaldo), has been put under investigation by Rome prosecutors examining allegations of secret slush funds, legal sources said on Friday.

The investigation, part of a long-running case involving Finmeccanica, centers on allegations that false invoices were created by companies controlled by the group. They are then said to have been used to pay secret commissions….

…La Repubblica daily said the alleged slush funds were set up through a company called Selex and were used to pay commissions to former consultant Lorenzo Cola, in connection with the 2008 acquisition of U.S. defence group DRS Technologies.

Cola was arrested last year on charges of involvement in money laundering following a probe into Digint, a group 49 percent owned by Finmeccanica.

Digint was investigated for possible links with businessman Gennaro Mokbel, who was also arrested last year on suspicion of money laundering.

Finmeccanica said on Friday that all the payments it made to Cola were registered normally in its accounts….

read more 

Another Corrupt Italian Company in Hawaii: Hawaii Wind Developer tied to Largest-ever asset seizure by anti-Mafia police