Rome, Sept. 25 - A judge has ordered Cesare Geronzi, one of Italy's most influential bankers and a convicted fraudster, to face trial on charges linked to the 2002 collapse of tinned food maker Cirio, a judicial source said on Tuesday.
Judge Barbara Callari ordered Geronzi, supervisory board chairman of Italy's top merchant bank Mediobanca and chairman of Rome-based lender Capitalia, and 34 others to face charges, the source told Reuters. None was immediately available for comment.
Cirio's former owner, Sergio Cragnotti, his wife and three chidren are also among those to go to trial.
Prosecutors have called on them to face charges including preferential bankruptcy, aggravated fraud and bankruptcy involving the diversion of funds.
Italy's Cirio defaulted on 1.0 billion euros ($1.41 billion) of debt, causing investment losses among thousands of retail investors, many of whom have accused banks of selling them its bonds without explaining the risks.
Geronzi has been charged in his role of chairman of Capitalia, a job he is to leave on Oct. 1 when the takeover of the Roman bank by larger rival UniCredit becomes effective.