Series (9) – European money for the mafia!

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(Kai Littmann) – During the six months we spent investigating the “Rosario Leo Files”, we discovered the links that exist in Italy between the economy, the judicial system, politics and organised crime, which together form what experts and journalists call “il sistema”. Our investigation was facilitated by a series of corruption scandals currently rocking Italy, some of which involve the same players as the “Rosario Leo Files”. In the case of our dossier on the construction of gas pipelines in Italy, the numerous violations of the Anti-Mafia Law (Legge 55/1990) and others, committed by the structures presented in this series, have not worried the Italian “il sistema”, nor the European authorities, who will continue to work with structures whose fraudulent behaviour has been brought to light. In this final article, we summarise the results of our investigation and publish a long list of people who had received and been made aware of Rosario Leo’s files and who, by virtue of their professional obligations, should have taken action. But none of these people acted in accordance with the Constitution and the Law, and “il sistema” did everything in its power to cover up the scandal.

Many readers have asked us why we are publishing this story as a series over several weeks. The answer is simple: this story is so complex that it would have been impossible to present it in one big article that no one would have read and understood on a small European online medium like Eurojournalist(e). And many readers have asked us for evidence of what we say in this series. This evidence consists of thousands of documents showing how Rosario Leo’s files have circulated between the Italian courts and judicial bodies, and above all the “ordonanzia” issued by the Court of Messina, which coordinated those of the Courts of Catania, Rome, Milan and Palermo, following investigations by the Judicial Police detailing the interconnections between the various players in “il sistema” and who formed a sort of criminal association to ensure that Rosario Leo’s files were never prosecuted, and this for 28 years. If what is reported by a small European media outlet can be questioned, it is difficult not to believe the documents from the Judicial Police (the most voluminous of which runs to 444 pages).

The three companies mentioned in the first article in this series, ENI s.p.a., SNAM s.p.a. and Bonatti s.p.a., are all at the centre of several corruption scandals in Italy in which their links with organised crime have been proven. Yet none of these companies has been the subject of a judicial investigation in connection with Rosario Leo’s cases – quite the contrary. Under the benevolent eye of the country’s highest political and judicial authorities, the procedure was sabotaged and “il sistema” worked hard for 28 years to prevent the Court of Cassation from issuing a ruling that would have enabled Rosario Leo to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

But would Rosario Leo have obtained justice before the European authorities? When Eurojournalist(e) asked the European Commission for an explanation of the scandal, it claimed that everything had been checked and that everything was fine, that the European funds invested in Italian and European infrastructures were not European funds. We were surprised that after four weeks, the European Commission was content to respond to us with general statements (and that it did not answer a single one of our questions), and that the staff finally appointed to respond to us were, after several replacements of our contact persons, Italian. Honni soit qui mal y pense…. And we are left speechless when we think that the Italian justice system benefits from a European subsidy of €2,679,789.73 to “increase the efficiency of justice”. Subsidising such a corrupt system is something which seems outrageous…

In Italy, it was the Luca Palamara / Piero Amara scandal that established the link between energy giant ENI and organised crime and “il sistema”. The father of one of the lawyers appointed by ENI, Piero Amara, is none other than Giuseppe Amara, who, according to the Judicial Police, is the head of Cosa Nostra in Augusta. As far as the trio ENI – SNAM (which is still a partner of the European Union) – Bonatti is concerned, violations of the Anti-Mafia Law (Legge 55/1990) have been observed, without the judiciary, despite being duly informed at all levels, having deemed it necessary to intervene. On the contrary, the numerous complaints lodged by Rosario Leo have travelled from one court to another, have been “lost”, and have been dismissed…

The political world is also aware of this, right up to the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella who, as President of the Superior Council of the Magistracy, has received the case on several occasions. Several ministers had promised to examine Rosario Leo’s files, but failed to act. Worse still, Italian politicians are currently trying to push through legislative changes to establish impunity for magistrates, politicians and senior figures. However, in light of the various scandals currently rocking Italy, strong resistance is forming against these legislative initiatives, and it is hoped that these unconstitutional amendments will not be adopted.

The proof of this political-economic-judicial farce is clear and comes from the judicial system itself. The “ordonanzia” order issued by the Court of Messina, which coordinated the orders issued by the Courts of Catania, Rome, Milan and Palermo, following investigations by the Judicial Police, is high level evidence.

Now and firstly, it is high time that the “Rosario Leo Files” were finally brought before a non-corrupt court; secondly, Italy must do everything in its power to ensure that “il sistema” cannot enshrine the impunity, immunity, partiality and inequality of its players in Italian law; thirdly, the European Commission must urgently review its policy on controlling the sums injected into Member States. It is inconceivable that corrupt and criminal structures can profit from European taxpayers’ money. We are now awaiting action by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, OLAF and EUROJUST, as well as by the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office, which should take an interest in the matter if the long arm of “il sistema” does not reach Brussels.

Already published in this series:

Article 0 – Presentation of the series
Article 1 – ENI – SNAM – Bonatti and the others
Article 2 (special issue) – When crime is legalised…
Article 3 – The structures of organised crime in Italy
Article 4 – The gas pipeline infrastructure in Italy
Article 5 – Justice at the service of organised crime
Article 6 – Nicola Gratteri, a hero of modern times
Article 7 – And what does the European Commission say?
Article 8 – The “Rosario Leo Files”

List of people who were aware of the “Rosario Leo Files” and who, out of a sense of professional duty, should have reacted but did not. The indicated dates are the dates of delivery / reception of the files:

Magistrates, public officials and lawyers of consortia and companies:

* LO MORO Mariano, former Magistrate of the Court of Parma, February 2004, 31 January 2005, 28 June 2006
* POPPI Luisa, Magistrate, Court of Reggio Emilia, first hearing at the Court of Parma, 20 June 2007
* BRUSATI Stefano, Magistrate, Court of Appeal of Bologna, former judge Court of Parma, 1996 / 1997 / 1998
* MARI Renato, Magistrate at the Court of Parma, 1996 / 1997 / 1998
* ROGATO Pietro, Magistrate at the Court of Parma, 1996 / 1997 / 1998
* FEDERICO Raffaello, Magistrate at the Supreme Court of Cassation, former Magistrate at the Court of Parma, date not clear
* DI MARCO Diego, Magistrate at the Court of Appeal of Bologna, October 2008
* PARISI Mariapia, Magistrate at the Court of Appeal of Bologna, 13 July 2013
* DE CRISTOFARO Anna, Magistrate at the Court of Appeal of Bologna, 13 July 2013
* BIZZARRI Serena, Magistrate at the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Ancona, 2016
* CIMINI Carlo, Magistrate at the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Ancona, 2016 / 2017 / 2018
* MARRONE Antonella, Magistrate, Ancona Public Prosecutor’s Office, 2016 and 2017

Technical services of the Court of Parma:

* SPALLANZANI Alessandro, engineer, 1996
* TEDESCHI Angelo, engineer, 1996

Lawyers for the plaintiffs:

For Rosario Leo:

* BERTI Arnoaldi Giuliano
* MORACE Domenico
* CANTELLI Giancarlo
* MONOPOLI Pietro for the civil cases in Parma from 1996 to 2007 and at the Bologna Court of Appeal from 2008 to 2014

For IOELE Antonio, lawyer GUALTIERI, 1996
For MONIZZI Antonio, lawyer CARVELLI Gerardo, 1996
For NERI Americo, attorney CREMONINI, 1996/97

Responsible for Bonatti spa:

GHIRELLI ing. Paolo, Legal Representative and Chairman
Board of Directors: FERRETTI Oreste, PANIZZI Giuliano, FLORINI Camillo, all 2004, as well as LUZIETTI Samuele, salaried technician, and ROMITELLI dottore Egidio, labour consultant Bonatti spa, 1996

SNAM spa Milan:

* GAUDIO Mimmo, technician, (SNAM Progetti), 1995/96
* GOSETTO Antonio, technician, 1996

ENI spa Milan:

* Franco Bernabe, Managing Director, ENI spa, July 1996 / 1997 / 1998
* Paolo Scaroni, Managing Director, ENI spa Milan, 2002
* Claudio Descalzi, General Manager, ENI spa Milan, 2014 / 2019 / 2023
* Emma Marcegaglia, President of ENI spa, 2019
* Lucia Calvosa, President of ENI spa, 2020

Prosecutors and judges, judicial offices:

* Paolo Gubinelli, Prosecutor, Ancona Public Prosecutor’s Office, 07 december 2017 and 07 March 2019
* Vincenzo Luzi, Deputy Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal of Ancona, 29 December 2016 / 17 January 2017
* Sergio Sottani, Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Ancona, 07 March 2019

* Eugenio Facciolla, Public Prosecutor Castrovillari, 02 May 2016 / 21 December 2016
* Giuseppe Amara, Public Prosecutor of Parma, January 2017

* Giorgio Santacroce, President of the Supreme Court of Cassation, 9 May 2014
* Maria Pasquale Ciccolo, Attorney General, Supreme Court of Cassation, 23 November 2016 / 2017
* Riccardo Fuzio, Attorney General Supreme Court of Cassation, 16 February 2018
* Giovanni Salvi, Attorney General Supreme Court of Cassation, 22 June 2020 / 16 September 2020 / 25 February 2021 / 21 May 2021 / 20 December 2021
* Luigi Salvato, Attorney General Supreme Court of Cassation, 30 August 2022 / 28 November 2022

Judicial offices in Rome:

* Raffaele Cantone, Director ANAC (National Anti-Corruption Authority), 2014 / 23 February 2017 / 22 June 2022
* Giorgio Toschi, General of the General Command of the Guardia di Finanza, 23 February 2017
* Giovanni Legnini, Vice-President of the Superior Council of the Magistracy, 17 April 2014 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018
David Ermini, Vice-Chairman of the Superior Council of the Magistracy, 16 September 2020 / 22 June 2020 / 25 February 2021/ 21 May 2021 / 20 December 2021/
* Fabio Pinelli, Vice-President of the Superior Council of the Magistracy, 17 April 2014 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 16 March 2023

Courts of Milan 2014 / 2015 / 2016:

* Roberto Alfonso, Attorney General Court of Appeal Milan, 7 October 2016.
* Edmondo Bruti Liberati, Public Prosecutor Milan, 17 April 2014 / 6 May 2015
* Francesco Greco, Deputy Public Prosecutor Milan, 17 April 2014 / 25 July 2016
* Giulia Perotti, Public Prosecutor Milan, 25 July 2016

Courts of Perugia:

* Luigi De Ficchy, Public Prosecutor Perugia, 14 June 2019
* Raffaele Cantone, Attorney General Perugia, 22 June 2020 / May and July 2020
* Massimo Casucci, Attorney General of Perugia, May-July 2020
* Piercarlo Frabotta, Judge at the Court of Perugia, 25 June 2021 / 27 October 2021
* Sonia Grassi, Judge, Court of Perugia, 25 June 2021
* Mariella Roberti, Presiding Judge Perugia Criminal Court, 01 October 2021
* Sergio Sottani, Public Prosecutor Perugia Court of Appeal, 08 October 2021

Judicial offices in Rome:

* Directors, Inspectorate Ministry of Justice, 19 May 2014 / 2016 / 2017 / 2019 / 2020
* Paolo Ielo, Deputy Public Prosecutor Rome, April 2014
* Pignatone Giuseppe, Public Prosecutor Rome, 26 September 2017
* Maria Letizia Golfieri, Attorney General Rome, 26 September 2017
* Federico Cafiero De Rhao, National Anti-Mafia Directorate (DNA) Rome, 14 June 2019
* Giovanni Melillo, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando in Rome, 8 May 2014 / 23 November 2016 / 07 February 2017
* Giovanni Melillo, National Anti-Mafia Directorate (DNA) in Rome, 22 June 2022
* Francesco Lovoi, Public Prosecutor in Rome, 30 November 2022

Court of Brescia:

* Francesco Prete, Public Prosecutor Brescia, 21 May 2021 / 11 April
2023

Court of Florence:

* Acting, Public Prosecutor’s Office of Florence, 06 December 2021

Court of Taranto:

* Alessandro De Tomasi, Judge of the Court of Taranto, 23 May 2019 / 01 October 2019
* Remo Epifani, Public Prosecutor of Taranto, 21 November 2019

Court of Potenza:

* Francesco Curcio, Procuratore Capo Procura Potenza, 30 July 2019 / 8 June 2020
* Elena Mazzilli, Prosecutor of Potenza, 22 July 2022
* Salvatore Pignata, Judge at the Potenza Court, 24 January 2023 / 13 February 2023
* Valentina Rossi, Judge at Potenza District Court, 06 March / May 2023
* President of the Criminal Court of Potenza, 06 March / May 2023

Lawyers appointed by private individuals and companies:

Renzo Rossolini, attorney SNAM spa, Court of Parma, power of attorney for ENI spa
* Renzo Rossolini, lawyer SNAM spa, Court of Appeal of Bologna, mandate and power of attorney of ENI spa, 1996/2008
* Nicola Bassi, lawyer SNAM Rete Gas spa, Court of Appeal of Bologna, mandate and power of attorney of ENI spa, 2018
* Alessandro Alessandri, lawyer SNAM Rete Gas spa, Court of Cassation with mandate and power of attorney from ENI spa, 2018
* Eugenio Bruti Liberati, lawyer SNAM Rete Gas spa, Court of Cassation with mandate and power of attorney of ENI spa, 2018

Lawyers for Rosario Leo:

* Giuseppe Valente, counsel for the defence of the consortia at the Bologna Court of Appeal, 2013
* Giuseppe Valente, lawyer defending the consortia at the Court of Cassation in Rome, 2018
* Giuseppe Valente, lawyer defending a limited liability consortium with Rosario Leo as sole director, Courts of Taranto, 2013

Politicians and institutions:

* Luigi Bersani, Minister of Industry, 1997
* Andrea Orlando, Minister of Justice, 2014 / 2018
* Alfonso Bonafede, Minister of Justice, 2018 / 2020 (documents filed on 4 different dates)
* Marta Cartabia, Minister of Justice, 2021 / 2022 (documents filed on3 different dates)
* Carlo Nordio, Minister of Justice, 24 May 2023
* Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister, 19 September 2018
* Mario Draghi, President of the Council of Ministers, 25 February 2021
* Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers, May 24, 2023
* Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister, 19 September 2018 / February2019
* Luigi Di Maio, Deputy Prime Minister, 19 September 2018 / February 2019
* Luigi Di Maio, Minister for Labour and Economic Development, 2019 /2020

* Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic
* Sergio Mattarella, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, 2015 / 2023
* Sergio Mattarella, Guarantor of the Constitution (supervision and coordination Art. 91 Constitution)

Numerous acts filed on 17 August 2016 / November 2016 / February 2017 / September 2018 / February 2021 / May 2021 / December 2021 / March 2022 / 24 May 2023

* Sergio Mattarella, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Art. 87 of the Constitution), 2015

No investigation, no further investigation, no enquiry and no public trial. Failure to comply with Art. 116 Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 24 Constitution, Art. 112 Constitution and many others.

There may be inaccuracies concerning one or other date. Given the volume of documents, this may happen and we apologise in advance.