Hundreds of suspected members of Italy’s most powerful mafia group will face a judge this week, with a dedicated converted courtroom being used for the country’s biggest ‘maxi-trial’ of the last three decades.
The trial against the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate and its accomplices – which includes politicians, civil servants, police and businessmen – is expected to last for more than two years.
In total, 355 defendants, more than 900 prosecution witnesses and 400 lawyers will feature in the trial, as well as 58 state witnesses ready to break their ‘omerta’ – code of silence.
The ‘maxi-trial’ will be held in a specially outfitted building in the heart of ‘Ndrangheta territory in Calabria.
355 suspected members of Italy’s most powerful mafia group, the ‘Ndrangheta, will face a judge this week, with a dedicated converted courtroom (pictured) being used for the country’s biggest ‘maxi-trial’ of the last three decades
More than 900 prosecution witnesses and 400 lawyers will feature in the trial, as well as 58 state witnesses ready to break their ‘omerta’ – code of silence. Pictured: Italy’s Minister of Justice Alfonso Bonafede (fifth from right) inspects the building that has been specially converted into the courtroom for the trial, on December 15, 2020
The trial starting on Wednesday focuses on just the Mancuso family and its affiliates.
It took almost three hours to read the names of each defendant at a recent hearing – with boss Luigi Mancuso ‘The Uncle’ among a host of nicknames which included ‘The Wolf’, ‘Fatty’, ‘Sweetie’, ‘Blondie’, ‘Little Goat’ and ‘The Wringer’ that held up proceedings.
The state is putting forward a show of strength by holding the trial right in the heart of ‘Ndrangheta territory – with the gang controlling tonnes of cocaine flowing into Europe.
To take on the gang, Italy’s most famous anti-mafia prosecutor, Nicola Gratteri, will rise to the occasion.
Gratteri, 62, has spent the last 30 years living under police escort, but as a child he played football with many of those he has already put in prison.
The only bigger ‘maxi-trial’ in Italy’s history, was its first ever one in 1986-87 in Palermo against Sicily’s Cosa Nostra. That trial saw 338 people convicted and prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were later assassinated by the mob
A call centre in the heart of ‘Ndrangheta territory has been specially converted into a courtroom to fit all 355 defendants
He has now vowed to take down ‘this asphyxiating ‘Ndrangheta, which truly takes the breath and the heartbeat from the people’.
The only bigger ‘maxi-trial’ in Italy’s history, was its first ever one in 1986-87 in Palermo against Sicily’s Cosa Nostra.
That trial saw 338 people convicted and prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were later assassinated by the mob.
Federico Varese, professor of criminology at Oxford University, said: ‘It makes the point that there’s a society outside the criminal organisation that’s colluding and helping.
‘Obviously it’s shocking that you have a criminal group so rooted in the territory you have to put hundreds of people on trial,’ Varese said.
Italy’s most famous anti-mafia prosecutor, Nicola Gratteri, 62, (pictured) will take on 355 suspected members of the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate this week
Gratteri, 62, (pictured) has spent the last 30 years living under police escort, but as a child he played football with many of those he has already put in prison
‘This trial shows how deeply rooted the ‘Ndrangheta is in society.’
Although 355 defendants will be on trial, the number of accused swelled to more than 400 when those who opted for speedy trials are included.
Among the accused is former parliamentarian Giancarlo Pittelli, a renowned defence lawyer, Freemason and ex-senator from former premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party.
He denies accusations he acted as middleman between the ‘Ndrangheta and the world of politics, banking, and other powerful institutions, including the courts.
Most of the defendants were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in December 2019 which occured throughout Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Bulgiaria.
Allegations include mafia association, murder and attempted murder, drug trafficking, extortion, loan sharking, disclosure of official secrets, abuse of office, possession of stolen goods and money laundering.
The fact that the trial, which is expected to last for more than two years, is being held in the heart of ‘Ndrangheta territory is seen as a show of strength from the state
Most of the defendants were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in December 2019 which occured throughout Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Bulgiaria
Among the multiple murders, some of which date back to 1996, is that of the 2002 disappearance of Filippo Gangitano, murdered by his cousin because of his homosexuality.
‘These things can’t exist inside the ‘Ndrangheta,’ the cousin, now a state witness, said he was told by the bosses.
Gangitano’s body was buried in a spot where a road was later built, the witness said, according to news reports.
‘Maxi-trials’ are controversial, given the need to give each suspect a fair hearing and prosecutors argue that it is difficult to separate and prosecute each individual crime.
Nicola Lo Torto, a defence lawyer, said that the stakes are high for Gratteri because ‘if it doesn’t manage to convict a lot of people, it will be considered a flop.’
However, Oxford’s Varese said that even if the trial is successful, the ‘Ndrangheta won’t be eliminated because they will ‘just reproduce’.