Jul 07 2008
Alleged Mafia extortionists identified in court
Palermo — Eighteen business people who became victims of the Mafia’s ‘protection’ racket chose to identify their suspected extortionists in court on Monday.
The Addiopizzo (Goodbye Pizzo) anti-racket youth movement hailed as “historic” the victim appearances in a high-security courtroom in the Sicilian city of Palermo.
The association campaigns against the Mafia’s protection racket, called ‘Pizzo’ in Italian.
“Today is an historic day for the city of Palermo…and the Libero Futuro anti-racket association played a decisive role in this fundamental step forward, by mobilising these shopkeepers and business people,” said Addiopizzo.
The Libero Futuro-Addiopizzo (Free Future-Goodbye Pizzo), is a leading anti-racket campaigning group.
The 18 victims who agreed to “break a wall of silence” and identify their alleged Mafia extortionists in court were over half the total 30 invited to do so, Addiopizzo stated.
The victims who chose to testify in court all positively identified their suspected extortionists, separated from them by a two-way mirror.
Other racket victims are due to identify their suspected extortionists in court on Thursday.
“Almost daily now, small and bigger fish from the racket are being being arrested, thanks to cooperation from business people.
“And those who have been paying ‘protection money’ for years have now understood that today one can also choose not to pay,” Addiopizzo added.
Over 255 entrepreneurs, shopkeepers and other small business people have publicly refused to pay Mafia protection money, as well as over 9,000 consumers, according to Addiopizzo.
Italian private employers Confindustria last year decided to expel members found to be paying Mafia protection money, saying it cannot wait for the slow-moving Italian judiciary to act.
Alleged Mafia extortionists identified in court – 7 July 2008 – AKI – This story was found at: http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.2318373769
