A bank employee in southern Italy is facing criminal charges after illegally accessing the accounts of thousands of people, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, top government officials, and judges.
The 52-year-old bank clerk, who worked at the Intesa Sanpaolo branch in Apulia, is accused of making 6,600 unauthorized entries into the accounts of 3,500 clients over the past two years.
He has been identified by Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera as Vincenzo Coviello.
While no money was reportedly stolen, the breach has sparked concerns about privacy and security at one of Italy’s largest banks.
The police began investigating the official in August after a local businessman noticed unauthorized activity on his account and filed a complaint. Further investigations revealed that the bank clerk had been accessing accounts belonging to high-profile figures such as Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and Minister for European Affairs Raffaello Fitto.
Others targeted include Meloni’s sister, Arianna, and the governors of Puglia and Veneto, Michele Emiliano and Luca Zaia.
The data breach was identified by a branch manager following a complaint from a wealthy businessman who informed the authorities, leading to an investigation by the Bari Prosecutor’s Office.
Coviello is understood to have made 6,637 unauthorized accesses to sensitive data pertaining to 3,572 customers throughout Italy over a two-year period between Feb. 21, 2022, and April 24, 2024.
Coviello insists he did so purely out of curiosity, telling prosecutors, “I did everything by myself, and in any case, I never downloaded any documents. I’m a control freak.”
He was subsequently fired from his position with immediate effect.
The 52-year-old suspect had his house searched on Thursday, with authorities seizing all electronic devices for forensic checks. He has been charged with unauthorized access to I.T. systems and attempted procurement of information concerning state security.
President of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana expressed full solidarity with Meloni and the other victims of the scandal, telling lawmakers that all “have suffered serious violations of privacy.”
“Thanks to those who have worked, and are working, to provide clarity and justice, combating illegal practices and guaranteeing data protection,” he added.
