Italian anti-mafia prosecutors in are probing four typed notes found in the pockets of top Sicilian mafia boss Gerlandino Messina
Palermo, 25 Oct. (AKI) – Gerlandino Messina. Italian anti-mafia prosecutors in are probing four typed notes found in the pockets of top Sicilian mafia boss Gerlandino Messina when he was captured Saturday near the city of Agrigento. The notes contain the names of several companies involving in major public works projects in Sicily, according to investigators.
Investigators believe Messina had intended to demand so-called ‘protection money’ from the unnamed companies. Police seized a typewriter at the property in Favara where Messina was arrested, as well as a pen drive and a computer. Two guns and bullets were also found in the raid . Messina has exorsized the right to remain silent
Palermo prosecutors on Monday were due to ask Italy’s justice minister Angelino Alfano to order Messina be held in jail under Italy’s notoriously tough regime for high-level mafia suspects and convicts. “We have prepared the written request for the ’41 bis’ regime to be applied on Monday,” Palermo’s chief prosecutor, Francesco Messineo said on Sunday.
Prisoners held under ’41 is’ have drastically curtailed contact with the outside world and with other prisoners. Messina had been on the run since 1999 and was on the list of Italy’s 30 most wanted fugitives. He was considered top Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro’s second in command, according to some media reports.
Messina Denaro, 47-year-old playboy, known as the ‘Godfather of Trapani, has been on the run since 1993.
The 38-year-old was arrested in the Sicilian town of Favara, near Agrigento. He was wanted for several murders and criminal association with the mafia.
The arrest is the latest in a string of high profile arrests of top mobsters by Italian police. A total of 28 of the 30 most dangerous organised criminals were now in behind bars, according to an Italian interior ministry statement.
But Italian media reported that more names had been added to the list, which is regularly updated by authorities, and 16 top mafia bosses were still at large.
