Gianpiero Fiorani

Gianpiero Fiorani (Codogno, September 12, 1959), is an italian banker and manager who was implied in the Italian banking scandal of 2005 known as "Bancopoli".

Biography

With a degree in political sciences, Fiorani was the manager of the bank Banca Popolare Italiana (formerly Banca Popolare di Lodi). In the summer 2005, this bank was investigated for the Bancopoli scandal, and then by magistrates (GIP) in Rome and Milano. Fiorani is considered one of the "furbetti del quartierino" (smartasses of the 'hood).

In December 2005, after the conclusion of this investigation, Gianpiero Fiorani was arrested. He regained his freedom on June 13, 2006 because of a general parliamentary pardon by a speedy bipartisan initiative of both chambers in the Italian parliament. He spent months trying to get cleared of the charges. 68.4% of the associates of the bank where he was the chief executive officer ("amministratore delegato"), voted to sue him in a class action.

Mismanagement and fraud in the Banca Popolare di Lodi

As a result of the official investigations by the Italian prosecutors' office ("Procura Nazionale") and by the Italian National Bank "Banca d'Italia" [ [http://www.repubblica.it/2005/l/sezioni/economia/banche20/odrinnn/odrinnn.html] "L'arresto di Fiorani Il Testo Integrale dell'Ordinanza del GIP" - La Repubblica] it became clear that for years, Fiorani and his hidden associates had become the total controllers of the Banca Popolare di Lodi, using it to gain control of other small banks such as Popolare di Crema, but also for their own personal advantage, such as getting real estate properties for themselves and for third parties, operating arbitrarily, with absolute internal, external and institutional control.

Among other things, the official investigations established that in order to cover losses, the bank charged its unsuspecting customers with increasing bank fees. Thus, according to the (GIP) magistrate Clementina Forleo, many small accounts suffered huge losses. It was also confirmed that if an account holder died and the relatives did not close the account quickly, it was illegally seized by the bank.

Advice to Victims

In an interview given on July 14 to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica [ [http://www.repubblica.it/2007/07/sezioni/cronaca/nuova-vita-fiorani/nuova-vita-fiorani/nuova-vita-fiorani.html] "La seconda vita di Fiorani: In tv darò consigli ai truffati" (The second life of Fiorani: On TV I will give advice to victims.)] Fiorani released a statement that affirmed, "With all my experience and competence, I find myself in a broadcast to explain to Italians how not to get cheated by banks and insurance companies."

Notes