A 52-year-old banker from Bitonto, Vincenzo Coviello, has been dismissed from his position at Intesa Sanpaolo in Bisceglie after conducting over 6,000 unauthorized accesses to sensitive data.

Coviello allegedly spied on the accounts of more than 3,500 clients, including high-profile politicians, celebrities, and business figures, over a span of two years.

The breach was discovered following a complaint from a wealthy client, leading to an investigation by the Bari Prosecutor's Office.

Coviello defended his actions as mere curiosity, claiming he never downloaded any documents.

The case has sparked significant political reactions, with calls for preventive measures against such privacy violations.