ROME, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Italy's Justice minister has ordered government inspectors to investigate whether ministry officials were involved in an alleged plot to spy on civilians.
Italian Justice Minister Clemente Mastella, responding to allegations in Italian newspapers Thursday that those involved in the alleged plot had been assisted by officials from the Justice and Interior ministries, said he has ordered internal investigators to establish "the truth of the reports and, if necessary, the precise scope of the affair," ANSA news agency reported Friday.
Police have arrested 21 people, including two senior executives with Telecom Italy and parent company Pirelli, in the investigation into the alleged spying on thousands of Italian citizens, ANSA said. Investigators accuse the arrested parties of putting illegal phone taps in place as well as accessing secret bank, tax, phone and judicial records.
Mastella said the alleged plot would amount "to (a) serious breach of civil and democratic liberties."
ANSA said it is not clear why the information was being gathered.
