(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 8 - Concerns expressed by Italy's anti-corruption authority that the project to build what would be the world's longest suspension bridge across the Messina Strait between Sicily and mainland Italy poses too many risks for the public purse are "totally unfounded", the transport and infrastructure ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
    This is "not only because a person responsible for the prevention of corruption and for transparency will be appointed, but also because legality and the proper use of public funds are guaranteed under the general rules of our legal system as well as by the Procurement Code," the statement said, adding that this sets out "exact responsibilities and sanctions".
    The statement came after Italy's anti-corruption chief earlier warned of "an imbalance in the relationship between the public grantor and the private party, to the detriment of the public, on which most of the risks end up being transferred".
    National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC) president Giuseppe Busia told parliament the anti-graft authority had proposed a number of amendments to the draft legislation to "strengthen the guarantees of the public party, which were not, however, accepted by the government when the decree was converted into law".
    The project to build the bridge has been long delayed amid fears of mafia infiltration and graft, as well as seismic and environmental concerns. (ANSA).