Mafia Godfather Provenzano's arrest tied to poll
Barbara McMahon
The Age, Australia
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Rome:
The capture in Sicily of the Mafia "boss of bosses" who had eluded Italian police for more than four decades has inspired election conspiracy theories.The man nicknamed "the Tractor" because of the way he crushed his opponents, was arrested on Tuesday near his home town of Corleone, the organisation's heartland and a place forever associated with the Godfather films.Bernardo Provenzano, 73 and in ill health, was taken into custody after a painstaking police operation that most Italians believed would never happen. During his 40 years on the run, he was thought to have been protected by his powerful friends. But the man wanted for the murder of two anti-Mafia magistrates in 1992 is now behind bars.
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See Also:
Sicilian mafia's top boss collared by his laundry
Provenzano held in maximum security prison
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Coming after the declaration of election results, the arrest has inevitably inspired conspiracy theories. Piero Grasso caused a storm earlier this year when, as newly appointed head of Italy's anti-Mafia operations, he suggested Provenzano was being protected by "businessmen, technical experts, professionals and even politicians"
.The arrest is a coup for the outgoing minister of the interior, Giuseppe Pisanu, who will be in the running for leader of Forza Italia should Silvio Berlusconi decide to resign. Equally, many Mafia prosecutors are firmly attached to the left and it could be seen as a sign that Romano Prodi's new government will want to crack down hard on organised crime.
Barbara McMahon
The Age, Australia
_____________
Rome:
The capture in Sicily of the Mafia "boss of bosses" who had eluded Italian police for more than four decades has inspired election conspiracy theories.The man nicknamed "the Tractor" because of the way he crushed his opponents, was arrested on Tuesday near his home town of Corleone, the organisation's heartland and a place forever associated with the Godfather films.Bernardo Provenzano, 73 and in ill health, was taken into custody after a painstaking police operation that most Italians believed would never happen. During his 40 years on the run, he was thought to have been protected by his powerful friends. But the man wanted for the murder of two anti-Mafia magistrates in 1992 is now behind bars.
________________
See Also:
Sicilian mafia's top boss collared by his laundry
Provenzano held in maximum security prison
______________
Coming after the declaration of election results, the arrest has inevitably inspired conspiracy theories. Piero Grasso caused a storm earlier this year when, as newly appointed head of Italy's anti-Mafia operations, he suggested Provenzano was being protected by "businessmen, technical experts, professionals and even politicians"
.The arrest is a coup for the outgoing minister of the interior, Giuseppe Pisanu, who will be in the running for leader of Forza Italia should Silvio Berlusconi decide to resign. Equally, many Mafia prosecutors are firmly attached to the left and it could be seen as a sign that Romano Prodi's new government will want to crack down hard on organised crime.
