Antonio Ciavarello, son-in-law of the late mafia boss Totò Riina , was arrested in Malta the day after his 50th birthday. Wanted in Italy for a fraud conviction, Ciavarello lived in Mosta, one of the island's largest cities, where he worked as a driver for a construction company.
Ciavarello had been sentenced to two years in prison and to pay a fine of 100 thousand euros for fraud, and to another eight months in prison for another conviction. A European arrest warrant had been issued against him on 24 January 2022 by the Brindisi magistrates.
In court in Malta, the man attended the hearing complaining of pain in his legs and was assisted by an interpreter. He did not oppose extradition and therefore remains in the custody of the Maltese authorities awaiting his return to Italy.
Ciavarello's activities
In addition to his work as a driver, Ciavarello had several activities, some of which were rather unusual. He had in fact set up a company with virtual headquarters in London that dealt with:
Sale of wines with the Riina brand
Online Lottery
Assistance to couples interested in “fast divorces” in just 40 days (“all inclusive” package of 7.500 euros)
In Puglia he had also set up a car spare parts company.
The “Zù Totò” wafers and the “intolerable provocation”
Among Ciavarello's most striking initiatives was the online sale of pods for the "Zù Totò" (Uncle Totò) coffee, supported by a survey on Facebook. The online page was later blocked and the mayor of San Pancrazio Salentino called the initiative an "intolerable provocation".
The Shadow of Totò Riina
Ciavarello has always maintained that his father-in-law's shadow had a negative impact on his life. In December 2017, shortly after Riina's death in prison, he was arrested in Puglia and placed under house arrest to serve the remainder of a six-month sentence for a fraud conviction.
Now, with his arrest in Malta, Ciavarello will have to serve the sentences he had evaded.
