As an Italian magistrate in the 1990s, Gherardo Colombo was one of the prosecutors behind the sensational “Clean Hands” investigation, which revealed a network of bribery and illicit party financing so pervasive it destroyed the credibility of Italy’s political establishment.
Popularly known as tangentopoli, or “bribesville”, the scandal triggered the collapse of mainstream political parties, paving the way for media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi’s foray into active politics. It also marked the start of years of conflict between Berlusconi and magistrates he denounced as “communist judges” out to destroy him.
These days, Colombo, now 79, is fretting about constitutional changes that he fears will make it tougher for future generations of magistrates to pursue corruption cases.