Vallanzasca underwear theft conviction upheld

(ANSA) - Milan, April 24 - A Milan appeals court on Friday upheld a 10-month sentence for former Milanese underworld kingpin Renato Vallanzasca for stealing two pairs of boxer shorts and other small items totalling 66 euros in a supermarket last June.
    Vallanzasca had appealed against the conviction earlier this week, saying it would unfairly mean he loses all chance of parole on four concurrent life sentences for racketeering and murder. At the time of the petty theft, Vallanzasca was on a work release program that allowed him to leave prison for work each day and return in the evening.
    The privilege was revoked following his arrest for the supermarket theft.
    The 64-year-old Vallanzasca is one of Italy's most notorious gangsters, making headlines in the 1970s for his multiple jail breaks, prison riots, and life as a fugitive.
    Vallanzasca has said he believes he was framed for the underwear theft because of statements he gave to prosecutors in an investigation taking place in the town of Forli'.
    The Forli' prosecutor refuted this charge, citing that the investigation Vallanzasca is referring to "began two months after this (theft)".
    The former gangster had also previously claimed that he had been "stitched up" by authorities, because at the time of the theft he was coming up for consideration for release for good behaviour.