Italian prosecuters have pointed to Silvio Scaglia, the billionaire founder of FastWeb SpA, as part of the ring of a tax-evaders and money launderers.

Scaglia, being held in Rome’s Rebibbia jail, said today during his questioning that FastWeb was the “victim” of a scam, his lawyer Pier Maria Corso told reporters in Rome. Scaglia should be recognized as “absolutely uninvolved with any wrongdoing, if it existed,” Corso said.

I always presume innocence, unless the facts clearly attest otherwise, but expect the Internet to have a field day with this one. The Italian blogosphere, possibly fueled by rivals, disgruntled former employees, and unsatisfied customers of FastWeb, will assume guilt as they always do–innocence doesn’t get as many hits. A bit of international reputation management could help him immensely right about now.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-02/fastweb-s-conduct-absolutely-correct-scaglia-says-update1-.html