New iPhone investigation Launched in Italian ‘Affidopoli’ Scandal
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A probe into a second WhatsApp profile on the iPhone of Massimiano Santini, a former collaborator of Matteo Ricci, has been ordered by the Pesaro Prosecutor’s Office, escalating the investigation into the widening “Affidopoli” scandal. The renewed focus on digital forensics comes after initial searches of Santini’s iPhone 14 Pro Max in September 2024 yielded a forensic copy and recovered deleted files, but failed too uncover all potentially relevant communications.
Initial Search and Subsequent Request for Deeper Dive
The initial computer search of Santini’s device, conducted with the support of a technical consultant, was completed in october 2024. However, following an interrogation on August 11, 2025, Santini – through his legal counsel, Gioacchino Genchi – requested further investigation into the iPhone’s data. This request prompted the Public Prosecutor to authorize new technical investigations specifically targeting a previously unused business WhatsApp profile.
“The Pesaro Public Prosecutor confirmed ‘the relevance of new and further forensic investigations’ on Santini’s smartphone,” Genchi stated,”for the purpose of recovering chat logs referable to a disused business profile associated with the telephone number 370.XXX3257.” This profile, investigators believe, was utilized for work-related activity during the period covered by the charges and differs from the WhatsApp profile identified during the initial IT search (associated with the number 370.XXX3251).
“Unrepeatable Assessment” and iCloud Data Recovery
On August 13, 2025, Santini voluntarily turned over his iPhone – equipped with both a new and old SIM card – to investigators. both SIM cards were seized as evidence. The current investigation aims to recover multimedia content and conversations that occurred on the WhatsApp Business platform using the deactivated account. Investigators suspect backups of this data may reside within Apple’s iCloud, linked to Santini’s Apple ID.
According to a technical assessment notice delivered to the suspects last Wednesday, the Prosecutor’s Office believes this recovered content could be “decisive in reconstructing the role of matteo Ricci’s former collaborator in the management of municipal loans, from decisions on events to works financed in the years covered by the charges.”
The Public Prosecutor has designated this phase of the investigation as an “unrepeatable assessment,” meaning the technical operations can only be performed once. This designation grants the defense the right to appoint their own technical consultants and actively participate in the proceedings.
Expertise from the ‘Caso Rama’ Investigation
leading the technical investigation is engineer Marco Tinti, who was entrusted with the task by the Pesaro Prosecutor’s Office this morning. Tinti brings meaningful experience to the case,having previously served as a technical consultant to the prosecutor in the high-profile “caso Rama” investigation – the case surrounding the death of 19-year-old alessandro
Why: The investigation was launched due to suspicions that a second WhatsApp profile on Massimiano Santini’s iPhone contained relevant communications not found in the initial search. This stems from the broader “Affidopoli” scandal involving allegations of improper conduct in municipal affairs.
Who: Key individuals include Massimiano Santini (former collaborator of Matteo Ricci), Matteo Ricci (potentially implicated official), Gioacchino Genchi (Santini’s lawyer), and Marco Tinti (lead