Andrea Innocenti The Taranto Public Prosecutor's Office has requested house arrest for three key figures linked to the management of the former Ilva steelworks in Taranto: Lucia Morselli , former CEO of Acciaierie d'Italia; Alessandro Labile , former director of the plant's environmental department; and Francesco Astorri , ISPRA's head of the evaluation and inspections of plants of national strategic interest.
The precautionary measures are part of a broader file that examines the emissions and environmental management of the site in the period between 2019 and 2024.
The investigation, coordinated by prosecutors Mariano Buccoliero, Francesco Ciardo and Francesco Sansobrino, involves a total of 28 individuals and 5 companies , including ArcelorMittal , AdI Holding Spa and AdI Spa.
The alleged crimes range from criminal conspiracy to pollution , from environmental disaster to corruption , and even crimes such as aggravated fraud and forgery . For some of the suspects, the Prosecutor's Office has also requested interdictory measures aimed at limiting the performance of technical and managerial functions.
Preventive questions and scheduled interrogations
Preliminary Investigations Judge Francesco Maccagnano has scheduled preliminary hearings for November 3 , the date on which the precautionary requests made by the Prosecutor's Office will be examined.
Specifically, in addition to the three house arrests, prohibitive measures were requested for ten people, including managers and executives, and bans from holding roles related to the issuing of the Integrated Environmental Authorization (AIA) for some former company managers.
Hague bans for specific executives
Specifically, the Prosecutor's Office has requested a ban from engaging in activities related to the issuance of the AIA for the former plant director Vincenzo Dimastromatteo and the former director of Finance and Treasury Antonio Mura . Both held prominent roles during the Morselli-led administration, which began in the fall of 2019 and concluded with the initiation of extraordinary administration decided by the Ministry of Mimit in February 2024.
Allegations of misconduct and alleged omissions
According to the prosecution, company management was geared toward maximizing profits and reducing costs, even at the expense of environmental regulations. The charges include omissions in maintenance activities, the use of inappropriate spare parts, the decommissioning of emission control systems, and deficiencies in worker safety devices. The Prosecutor's Office hypothesizes that these decisions contributed to a deterioration in air quality in the Tamburi neighborhood and the progressive increase in harmful substances such as benzene , thus establishing factors attributable to the environmental disaster.
Corruption allegations and favorable promotions
The charges also include allegations of corruption against several individuals involved: according to the prosecution, they were promised management positions in exchange for failing to perform audits. Among those under investigation, in addition to the three for whom house arrest has been requested, are Franco Bernabè , former president of Acciaierie d'Italia, Aditya Mittal , CEO of ArcelorMittal SA, and Ondra Otradovec , a member of the board of directors of AdI.
Business impact and organizational measures
Amidst the ongoing legal and administrative tensions, AdI's extraordinary commissioners notified Federmanager of the initiation of collective dismissal proceedings to reduce management staff. The decision was motivated by the structural change to the industrial structure imposed by a judicial order issued by the Milan Court of Appeal on July 27, 2026 , which ordered the suspension of production in the hot-rolling area of the plant within ninety days, with an operational deadline of October 25, 2026. The company appealed that order to the Supreme Court of Cassation and filed suspension requests, but in the meantime the order resulted in the revocation of procurement orders and the initiation of the shutdown of the entire production cycle.
According to company documentation, the drastic reduction in production activities has necessitated an organizational rethink and the resulting reduction of non-essential functions. The total management staff number 73 , 51 of whom have permanent contracts, potentially affecting up to 80% of the redundant positions. The procedure affects operational offices in Taranto, Milan, Genoa, and Novi Ligure.
The case remains open and pending legal proceedings: the November 3 hearings and subsequent procedural developments will determine the continuation of the measures requested by the Prosecutor's Office and the eventual determination of criminal and administrative liability related to the management of the former Ilva.