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President has 'faith' in police despite scandal

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President has 'faith' in police despite scandal
President Giorgio Napolitano (pictured) met with Saverio Capolupo, head of the financial police, on Thursday. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Thursday said he had "faith" in the financial police, despite the force being hit by a corruption scandal earlier this month.

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In a meeting with the force’s chief, Saverio Capolupo, Napolitano “renewed his faith in the financial police (Guardia di Finanza) and its commander general,” the president’s office said in a statement.

The head of state also thanked the force for “asserting legality and for the development of initiatives and investigations that aim at setting the moral standards of public life.”

Napolitano’s support for the force comes just over a week after its Rome headquarters were searched as part of a corruption investigation.

The office of Vito Bardi, the financial police’s second in command, was searched on June 11th over allegations that he received money from a corrupt colleague.

Bardi was allegedly given cash, presents and favours as part of a scam to rig tax audits for companies in Naples.

His colleague Fabio Massimo Mendella, now stationed in Livorno, was arrested last week and accused of receiving a total of €1 million in bribes.

READ MORE: Financial police chief faces corruption probe

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