Giovanni Toti’s community service cannot be carried out by acting as a “testimonial” for the Montemarcello-Magra-Vara Park, a protected regional area in Liguria’s Levante.
In a court session addressing his plea agreement with the Genoa Prosecutor’s Office, Judge Matteo Buffoni set specific requirements for Toti’s community service, replacing his custodial sentence with clear guidelines.
The former Liguria governor, represented by lawyer Stefano Savi, had suggested a role promoting the park, led by a director he had appointed in 2021. However, this proposal raised ethical concerns, and the judge ruled that Toti’s service must meet two conditions: it must take place outside of a regional institution, and it must include physical tasks, not just intellectual work.
The session has been postponed to 19th December, following a review of the charges. Prosecutors increased the proposed penalties for Toti, raising his sentence from two years and one month to two years and three months, now translating to 1,620 hours of public service.
The penalties for Toti’s co-defendants, sent directly to trial, were also raised. Entrepreneur Aldo Spinelli, accused of bribing Toti, now faces three years and three months, while Paolo Emilio Signorini, former president of the Port of Genoa and allegedly another recipient of Spinelli’s bribes, is set to serve three years and six months.
The case, which highlights issues of governance and accountability, continues as the court reconvenes in December to confirm or adjust the conditions of Toti’s service.
