A Mafia boss fed the poor in
Palermo during the first COVID lockdown between March and May
last year, sources said Tuesday after a police operation
arrested 16 bosses and protection racketeers in the Sicilian
capital.
The boss, Giuseppe Cusimano, was said to have been the "point of
reference for the indigent" in the city's working class Zen
district, police said.
Police said this was confirmation that Cosa Nostra is still
trying to replace the Italian State in providing services and so
gain cultural and social acceptance and support.
Cusimano, 37, told ANSA last April that "mine was a charitable
action with the Padre Pio Association of the Zen (quarter) and
with others in several other quarters, trying to collect for
those in need".
Cusiamo, who is married with three children, said his charity
work was disinterested and was only aimed at trying "to help
people who don't even have a euro to feed themselves with".
Palermo Mayor Leoluca Orlando said the op was "further proof
that Cosa Nostra is exploiting the economic malaise caused by
COVID".
Tuesday's operation was the result of a probe which uncovered
evidence that the Palermo bosses planned robberies with
"war-grade arms", police said.
They also conducted "capillary-like" protection rackets.
Defence Undersecretary Angelo Tofalo said "today's operation is
proof that the State is not retreating when faced with the
mafia; it is stronger than the bosses".
The 16 people arrested have been charged with mafia association,
attempted murder, extortion, damaging property, aggravated
threats, and illegal weapons possession.
The op targeted the following three families, police said:
Tommaso Natale's, Partanna Mondello's, and ZEN - Pallavicino.
Among those placed under investigation was a historic Cosa
Nostra boss, Giulio Caporrimo, who was freed from jail after a
long detention in May 2019 and had to reckon with the new clan
leadership of Francesco Palumeri.
The probe also revealed that the bosses, in order to avoid
telephone intercepts, staged summits in dinghies in Palermo
harbour.
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