Naples – A dramatic turn of events in the first degree trial against Joseph Prinno, historical exponent of organized crime in the area of Rua Catalana, accused of extortion aggravated by the mafia method.
Article Key Points
- 1 La First Criminal Section of the Court of Naples, presided over by the judge Stephanie Daniele, ordered yesterday theimmediate release from prison of the 69-year-old, arrested in December 2023 together with his nephew Dario Prinno, who was also released.
- 2 The charge: extortion and assault
- 3 Return to freedom after years in prison
La First Criminal Section of the Court of Naples, presided over by the judge Stephanie Daniele, ordered yesterday theimmediate release from prison of the 69-year-old, arrested in December 2023 together with his nephew Dario Prinno, who was also released.
The turning point came during thetrial investigation, when the defense – represented by the lawyers Leopoldo Perone and Antonio Rizzo for Giuseppe Prinno and Arnaldo Bernini for Dario Prinno – highlighted a crucial element: the alleged victim of the extortion was investigateable for wear and tear.
The suspicion was so well founded that the former sailor was heard in court on March 21st as defendant in a related proceeding, choosing however to do not answer.
Having taken note of theweakening of the evidentiary framework, the court, as anticipated by Il Roma, has ordered the immediate release of Prinno and his nephew, who were already released yesterday evening. A decision that could have repercussions on the criminal balance of the historic center, between Bovio Square and Catalan Street, strongholds of the clan of which Prinno is considered a prominent element.
The charge: extortion and assault
The arrest of Prinno and his nephew dates back to December 2023, when the investigators charged them with aextortion against a former sailor of the neighborhood. «You've made money these years, huh?", Prinno reportedly said in a threatening tone to the victim, before making an explicit request: 5.000 euros for prisoners. When the man refused, the 69-year-old allegedly reacted with a punch to the face, while the nephew would have inflicted leg kicks.
The charges were based on three key elements:
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Two complaints presented by the victim 16 and the 20 November 2023
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The images from the video surveillance
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The medical report of the Pellegrini hospital, which attested 7 day prognosis for the bruises reported
Return to freedom after years in prison
Before being arrested for extortion, Giuseppe Prinno was released in May 2023 after 15 years served for mafia association. His criminal profile is considered to be high carat by investigators, who are now carefully monitoring the developments of his release and the possible repercussions on the delicate power structures of organised crime Neapolitan.
Article published on March 28, 2025 - 13pm
It is strange that someone like Prinno can be released, especially after such a long sentence. I hope the court made the right choice, but I have doubts about the reasons behind this decision.