Sigfrido Ranucci, the former host of Rai’s premier investigative reporting programme Report, was suspended by the state broadcaster for 10 days Monday for reasons including exchanging emails with a friend and controversial businessman over whom he was removed from his post at Report.
Other reasons for the suspension included the denigration of the two journalists initially selected to replace him over his allegedly murky relationship witth Valter Lavitola, a former Berlusconi extortionist who bombed Ranucci’s home in a bid, he 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.