The Milan Prosecutor's Office has placed Stefano Di Stefano, a senior executive from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and a member of the board of directors of Monte dei Paschi since 2022, under investigation on charges of insider trading. This inquiry centers around his acquisition of shares amounting to approximately €100,000 in Mediobanca and MPS just before significant corporate maneuvers were discussed internally. Di Stefano, who oversees corporate equity and the protection of strategic assets for the Treasury, had his mobile phone seized as part of an investigation into banking operations. This seizure occurred in November, prior to the initiation of the investigation against him, raising concerns about the timing of his trades.

As part of the investigation, authorities are examining stock transactions that took place between February and March of last year, coinciding with confidential discussions regarding a potential takeover attempt on Mediobanca. This information was shared only within MPS's board of directors, suggesting that Di Stefano might have had access to non-public knowledge that influenced his decision to purchase shares. This situation underscores the significant scrutiny on government officials and their financial dealings, especially in light of the ongoing turmoil in the banking sector.