Court refuses to release Camorra-linked politician from jail
Nicola Cosentino charged with helping mafia invest in mall
04 March, 18:33
(ANSA) - Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Caserta), March 4 - An
application revoking arrest warrants for Camora-linked
politician Nicola Cosentino was rejected by the local courts
Monday.Cosentino, a former industry undersecretary in a government of ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) party, will remain in jail, accused of collusion with the Mafia for alleged links with the Casalesi clan.
The court said it would release its reasons later in the week.
Cosentino has been indicted for allegedly helping the Casalesi clan of the Camorra invest in a shopping mall near Caserta.
Cosentino, who has been a PdL heavyweight in the Campania region around Naples and former party leader there, did not run in last week's general election, succumbing to pressure from the PdL.
Prosecutors have alleged that Cosentino was the "national reference point" of the Casalesi, who come from the Campania town he was born in, Casal di Principe.
Cosentino denies wrongdoing and Berlusconi has described the case against him as an example of alleged judicial persecution.
The Casalesi is the Camorra clan whose death threats have forced anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano into round-the-clock police protection.
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