Italian investigators open Chakib Khalil’s “black box”

A court in Milan will schedule the trial of people involved in the Sonatrach-Eni-Saipem corruption scandal as for next January. A pole of 8 examining judges was formed. Investigators found out important details about unofficial meetings between Algeria’s former energy minister Chakib Khalil and Italian officials. They were held in France and Austria.

An examining judge Tuesday questioned Eni’s Executive Director Paolo Descalzi at financial police station in Milan for three hours.

According to Italian news reports, investigators obtained important information about the unofficial meetings. Descalzi was, then, the man No 2 at Eni group. Money transfer statement and emails were included in evidences inventory.

The investigation process is expected to be over by January. Trials will be then started.

This comes as the Attorney General and defense lawyers asked to postpone the trials for 6 months to finish preliminary investigations.