Parmalat founder Tanzi granted house arrest

Calisto Tanzi, the founder of scandal-struck dairy group Parmalat, left prison yesterday when a judge granted his request for house arrest more than three months after he was put in jail. Mr Tanzi, 65, was detained on December 27 as one of the world's...

Calisto Tanzi, the founder of scandal-struck dairy group Parmalat, left prison yesterday when a judge granted his request for house arrest more than three months after he was put in jail.

Mr Tanzi, 65, was detained on December 27 as one of the world's biggest financial scandals erupted at the Italian food group, which has operations in 30 countries from Brazil to Australia.

Lawyers representing Mr Tanzi welcomed the decision and said the judge had accepted the house arrest request on medical grounds and in recognition of the former executive's cooperation with prosecutors investigating the case.

Mr Tanzi has a heart condition and has been taken to hospital several times since his arrest. Previous requests for house arrest were rejected.

Also granted house arrest yesterday were two former finance directors at Parmalat, Fausto Tonna and Luciano Del Soldato, who had been in prison since December 31.

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