Raggi to be probed in relation to appointment of Rome tourism chief.

Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi is under investigation as part of a probe into the proposed appointment as head of the capital’s tourism department of Renato Marra, the brother of her former right-hand man and city personnel chief Raffaele Marra.

Raggi is under investigation on suspicion of abuse of office and making false public statements, and will be heard by prosecutors on 30 January.

The embattled mayor said her "conscience is clear" in relation to the highly-paid appointment of Renato Marra – whose nomination was withdrawn subsequently – and said she has “complete faith” in the judicial system.

Raggi made her remarks on 24 January after informing the leader of her anti-establishment Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), Beppe Grillo, who recently relaxed his previous requirement for party members under investigation to stand down automatically.

In late December Italy's anti-corruption authority (ANAC) accused Raggi of being “aware of the obvious conflict of interests” when Marra promoted his brother to head the capital’s tourism department. There were also “contradictions” in the mayor’s account of how Marra’s brother was appointed to the post, according to ANAC.

Raffaele Marra was arrested in mid December as part of a separate investigation into real-estate corruption.