Ranucci suspended by Rai for 10 days over 'disciplinary' issues

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(ANSA) - ROME, 05 OTT - Sigfrido Ranucci, the former host of Rai's premier investigative journalism programme Report, was suspended by the state broadcaster for 10 days Monday for alleged "disciplinary" reasons including sending company emails to a friend and controversial businessman over whom he was removed from his post at Report after it turned out the latter had bombed his home last year. Other reasons for the suspension included the denigration of the two journalists initially selected to replace him over his allegedly murky relationship with Valter Lavitola, a former Berlusconi extortionist and restaurateur who bombed Ranucci's home outside Rome in a bid, Lavitola later said, to have his police escort expanded. Rome prosecutors have said they think the bombing was aimed at boosting Ranucci's popularity with a view to a possible entry into politics from which Lavitola hoped to benefit. Paolo Corsini, the head of the Rai department that commissions Report, said Monday he hoped Ranucci would not be reinstated by a Rome employment tribunal. Ranucci, who is still friends with Lavitola despite the bombing, has turned down three alternative posts offered him by the state broadcaster. He has also denied reports he sexually harassed female staffers and had an affair with an intern. Ranucci reacted to the news of his suspension by posting on Facebook: "Anyway, on Saturday at 8:45 PM, I will be in Bologna at the Duse theater to present my story, #DiarioDiUnTrapezista (Diary of a Trapeze Artist). On the 17th, I'll be in Albenga at the Ambra theater among friends—the 'Fieui di Caruggi'—followed by Reggio Calabria on October 24 and Calcinato on October 29. You will always, forever, find me on your side." He attached a link to an article in left-leaning daily Il Fatto Quotidiano announcing the suspension. Ranucci's lawyer said they would appeal the suspension. Rai's decision stemmed from four disciplinary charges: around fifty visits to company premises by Laura Cianfoni, a former CISL union representative; the allegedly defamatory content of a conversation with M5S MP Dario Carotenuto; company emails forwarded to Lavitola; and the disparagement of colleagues—specifically Giulia Presutti and Daniele Piervincenzi—who had initially been tapped to succeed the journalist at the helm of Report. Presutti later pulled out amid the furore and another journalist, Claudia Di Pasquale, was named to replace her. Piervincenzi and D Pasquale, both long-time Report journalists, are expected to helm the show unless Ranucci is reinstated. (ANSA). Read article...

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