Salerno – There is also the former mayor of Capaccio Paestum and former president of the Province of Salerno, Franco Alfieri, among the ten suspects reached this morning by precautionary measures carried out by the Operational section of the DIA of Salerno.
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The investigation, coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, hypothesizes very serious crimes: from political-mafia electoral exchange al attempted murder aggravated by the mafia method, From 'extortion to the possession of weapons of war, until the aiding and abetting.
For Alfieri, already arrested last October as part of an investigation into piloted procurement, it was arranged residence ban. But the heart of the operation concerns a alleged pact with organized crime to ensure victory in the municipal elections of 2019.
The electoral pact and the threat of an attack
According to investigators, Alfieri would have tightened a illicit agreement Robert Squecco, considered an exponent of theentrepreneurial area of the Marandino clan, and with the wife Stefania Nobiliat the time city councilor in Capaccio Paestum.
In exchange for votes, the former mayor would have guaranteed the conservation of the Lido Kennedy, a beach resort managed by Squecco through nominee and already at the centre of judicial measures.
But when, due to a natural event, part of the beach was demolished for security reasons, Squecco would have felt betrayed. According to the interceptions, he would then have Alfieri threatened through two intermediaries: Antonio Bernardi, local police officer, and Michele Pecora, municipal employee. The intimidations were allegedly conveyed through Maria Rosaria Picariello, resigning councilor for social policies.
Not only that: after the demolition, Squecco would have even ordered a bomb attack against Alfieri, contacting three criminals from Baronissi (Antonio Cosentino, Domenico De Cesare and Angelo Genovese). The plan, studied with site inspections and maps, would not have been realized just for a failure to reach economic agreement.
Weapons of War and False Witness
During the investigations, it lasted two years (2022-2024), also emerged weapons depots: among these, a Uzi and a Kalashnikov. De Cesare is also accused of a attempted murder against Angelo Genovese, linked to a attempted extortion.
Finally, the former councilor Picariello is accused of aiding and abetting for having released false statementsto law enforcement, hindering investigations.
A case that confirms theintertwining of politics and the Camorra in the Salerno area, with the former mayor having ended up in the crosshairs of justice for alleged links with organised crime.
The parliamentary anti-mafia commission requests the documents
As far as we know, the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission has requested the documents of the investigation that led to the blitz today by the operational section of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate of Salerno. During the operation, arrests were made and among the charges is that of political-mafia vote-trading.
(in the photo from left Franco Alfieri, Maria Rosaria Picariello, Roberto Sguecco and Stefania Nobili)
Article published on March 27, 2025 - 11pm
The article presents a very complex case with serious implications. It is important that the investigation is conducted thoroughly to ensure justice. However, the situation seems worse than expected regarding local politics.