Court of Auditors clears Vittorio Sgarbi of wrongdoing over subsecretary consulting work
Italy's Court of Auditors dismissed the prosecution's claim that Vittorio Sgarbi caused financial damage through 121 consulting assignments while serving as culture sub-secretary.
Vittorio Sgarbi received another judicial acquittal as Italy's Court of Auditors dismissed the accounting prosecutor's demand for him to repay the Ministry of Culture for 121 professional services performed during his tenure as sub-secretary. The court concluded that the contested conferences and interventions primarily dealt with ancient history, a field unrelated to his official duties, and did not produce any fiscal loss for the state.
It further emphasized that Sgarbi exercised rights safeguarded by the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights during those activities. The prosecution's argument that his parallel consulting work conflicted with public-office impartiality was not substantiated. Judges also highlighted that Sgarbi documented extensive public duties linked to his office, which the prosecution failed to refute. As a result, the ministry was ordered to cover Sgarbi's legal expenses.
