The Mafia Capitale is the name given to an organized crime organization,[1][2] and subsequent investigation,[3] involving the government of the city of Rome, in which members stole money destined for city services and carried out other criminal activities such as racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, illegal works, and bribery in the public administration. It operated in the city of Rome.[4] In 2020, Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation ruled out the mafia character of the criminal acts.[5]
| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Massimo Carminati Salvatore Buzzi |
| Years active | 1999–2014 |
| Territory | Rome |
| Activities | Money laundering, conspiracy, racket, political corruption, corruption, bid rigging |
Background
editA police investigation by Rome's chief prosecutor Giuseppe Pignatone revealed a network of corrupt relationships between some politicians and criminals in the Italian capital,[6] which attracted international attention.[7][8][9] It led to a request of 37 arrests.[10]
The criminal actions took advantage of the recent influx of immigrants to Italy, gaining public contracts to manage migrant reception centres.[11] The criminal organization also used its connections to secure lucrative public contracts, before accepting payments for substandard or, sometimes, non-existent services. Among those investigated are former mayor Gianni Alemanno and the bosses Salvatore Buzzi and Massimo Carminati, a former member of Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari and Banda della Magliana,[8] as well as members of the 'Ndrangheta.[12]
A 1,200-page arrest warrant was issued in December 2014, and was followed by dozens of arrests.[9][11] Among those investigated and arrested of the government of the city were the president of Rome's city council, the head of the city's public-housing division,[13] and the former president of Ostia.[14] On 18 December 2015, Alemanno was indicted for corruption and illicit financing. According to the accusation, Alemanno received €125,000 from the cooperatives' boss Salvatore Buzzi.[15] On 7 February 2017, the allegation of an external cooperation in a mafia association was filed, including the allegations of corruption and illicit funding.[16] On 20 July 2017, Carminati was sentenced to 20 years in jail, along with other various sentences of his associates.[17] On 11 September 2018, Carminati was sentenced to 14 years and six months on appeal, with Buzzi sentenced to 18 years and four months.[18]
In popular culture
editThe events of the Mafia Capitale investigation are the basis for the 2015 film Suburra,[19] as well as the 2017 TV series Suburra: Blood on Rome.[20][21]
References
edit- ^ "Mafia capitale, il libro mastro del clan di Carminati e i "doppi" stipendi dei politici". Rainews.it. Rai - Radiotelevisione Italiana. 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "La Procura spiega il sistema-Roma: 'È la 'Mafia Capitale', romana e originale'". Rainews.it. Rai - Radiotelevisione Italiana. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "LA SENTENZA DI PRIMO GRADO- Carminati e Buzzi condannati, ma cade l'accusa di mafia" (in Italian). ansa.it. 11 September 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ "La Procura spiega il sistema-Roma: "È la 'Mafia Capitale', romana e originale"". Rai - Radiotelevisione. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Mondo di mezzo, ecco perché per la Cassazione Buzzi e Carminati sono "criminali semplici": "A Roma funzionari assoggettati e collusione sistemica. Forme di corruzione sistematica ma non c'era mafia"". ilfattoquotidiano.it (in Italian). 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Mackenzie, James (2014-12-04). "Rome mayor orders review of contracts amid graft scandal". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ Mackenzie, James (2015-06-04). "Italy hit by new corruption scandal over migrant centres". Uk.reuters.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ a b Squires, Nick. "'Mafia capital': Rome hit by mobster scandal". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2014-12-06. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ a b Povoledo, Elisabetta (12 December 2014). "World - Print Headline: "Italy Gasps as Inquiry Reveals Mob's Long Reach". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ "Ecco la 'mafia Capitale': 37 arresti per appalti del Comune. Indagato anche Alemanno". la Repubblica. December 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ a b "Italy arrests 44 in mafia migrant centre probe". Bbc.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Squires, Nick. "Rome mafia scandal broadens to 'Ndrangheta in southern Italy". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ Barbie Latza Nadeau (6 December 2014). "The Mayor Who Took Down the Mafia That Ruined Rome". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ Autore Ospite (2015-06-04). "'MAFIA CAPITAL' – 44 PEOPLE ARRESTED". Interris.it. Archived from the original on 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ "Alemanno indicted in Rome Mafia case". ansa.it. 18 December 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Mafia Capitale, 113 archiviazioni. Alemanno: "Ora voglio le scuse"" (in Italian). adnkronos.com. 7 February 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Rome corruption gang leaders jailed". BBC News. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "Mondo di mezzo, sentenza d'appello: 18 anni a Buzzi, 14 anni a Carminati. C'è l'associazione mafiosa" (in Italian). rainews.it. 11 September 2018. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- ^ "Suburra: tra fiction e realtà, "Mafia Capitale" era già in un libro". Repubblica.it (in Italian). 14 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Placido: "Suburra senza censure su mafia capitale"". LaStampa.it (in Italian). 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "L'anteprima di "Suburra", Netflix racconta al mondo la Roma di Mafia Capitale". LaStampa.it (in Italian). 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.