Rector under investigation for influencing appointments

The rector of Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, Lucio D’Allesandro, is under investigation for allegedly helping the son of former minister Ortensio Zecchino get a research position at the institution, reports ANSA.

News of the investigation follows reports two days earlier of the arrest of seven university teachers in Florence in relation to a probe into the alleged rigging of exams to qualify as lecturers. Another 22 people have been barred from holding academic positions for 12 months in relation to the probe and 59 people are under investigation in total, including two-time former cabinet minister Augusto Fantozzi.

The probe was triggered by an alleged attempt by some teachers to persuade a researcher who was a candidate in an exam to qualify as a tax-law teacher to withdraw the bid in favour of a less qualified candidate. The first researcher was allegedly promised a pass in the next exam.
Full report on the ANSA site