Briatore Cleared of Obstruction of Justice Suspicions

Renault F1 team chief Flavio Briatore has been cleared of allegations of obstructing justice by a court judge in Potenza, Italy, after the Italian's name was included in a list of 76 suspects under investigation for varying alleged offences, including corruption, extortion, bribe, and obstruction of justice.

Henry John Woodcock, the district attorney of Potenza in the south of Italy, claimed in a court hearing last week that Briatore had revealed information on a planned police investigation to other suspects. Briatore, according to Woodcock, was tipped off about the investigation himself by police officers who were set to hold the investigation at Briatore's "Billionaire" restaurant and disco club in Sardinia.

However, judge Geraldina Romaniello dismissed the allegations against Briatore, stating that "there is no substantial evidence to suggest that Flavio Briatore instigated the officers to reveal the information to him."

Woodcock appeared in the Potenza court with a list of 76 suspects, among them the president of the Perugia football team, a well known Italian singer, the RAI director of parliamentary information, the brother of the Italian Minister of Productive Activities, two ex directors of the CISL workers union, and the Italian Ambassador at the European Union.

The alleged offences refer to many different events - including the acquisition of credits from public organizations, the international dealings of hydrocarbons, the appointing in ministries, and obstruction of justice.

Woodcock made a formal request for an arrest warrant against 21 of the suspects, as well as house arrest for other 26 suspects, and suspension from carrying out public and managerial activities for nine more suspects. No formal requests were made concerning Briatore and 19 other suspects.

The court denied Woodcock's request, claiming lack of jurisdiction over the case - judge Romaniello stating the majority of the offences had allegedly took place in Rome. In her statement, however, she noted the gravity of the evidence gathered by the district attorney against many of the suspects, while clearing Briatore and others.

Woodcock has appealed against the decision and the appeal will be heard on December 17th in Potenza.