Taranto prosecutors seek house arrest for ex-Ilva chief and two others

Taranto prosecutors have asked for house arrest for Lucia Morselli, former chief executive of Acciaierie d’Italia, and two other former officials.

The case concerns the Ilva steelworks in Taranto, southern Italy, and its management from 2019 to 2024.

Prosecutors allege the managers failed to maintain equipment properly and let pollution controls fall short, contributing to rising benzene levels in the nearby Tamburi district.

They also allege that an environmental inspector, Francesco Astorri, softened checks in return for a promised job, an accusation the inquiry says involved Morselli and former plant director Alessandro Labile.

The investigation also includes alleged fraud over European carbon-emissions permits; prosecutors say 28 people are under investigation, including ArcelorMittal chief Aditya Mittal and former Acciaierie d’Italia chair Franco Bernabè.

Morselli’s lawyer says she is innocent and always followed the rules.

A judge will hear the three officials on 3 November before deciding whether to grant the house-arrest requests.