The Preliminary Investigations Judge of Catania, Stefano Montoneri, has ordered the release from prison for serious health reasons of Cristian Calvagno, 37 years old, arrested in November 2024 as part of Operation Meteora for mafia association.
The man, a presumed member of the Santangelo clan of Adrano and of the fringe of the Mazzei clan, was detained in the prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Caserta), where he had attempted suicide on January 20th.
The GIP's decision comes after repeated requests from defense attorney Giuseppe Lipera and a touching letter from his wife Cristina Furnari, 36, who had begged the authorities to intervene due to her husband's "very serious state of health", which she described as "incompatible with detention".
The wife's request and Calvagno's conditions
In her appeal to the GIP and the Attorney General of Catania, Furnari had described a dramatic picture: “My husband is slowly dying,” she wrote, underlining Calvagno’s physical and psychological deterioration.
In requesting his release, the lawyer Lipera had highlighted how his client was “severely depressed”, tormented by a “constant sense of guilt” for not being able to assist his minor son, who suffered from a serious illness. Furthermore, Calvagno had lost about 15 kilograms during his detention, a sign of an evident worsening of his physical condition.
The GIP's provision
In ordering the release, GIP Montoneri imposed on Calvagno the obligation to reside in Biancavilla, his hometown, and the obligation to periodically report to the judicial police. However, the measure is not limited to the man's release.
The judge in fact highlighted how, despite the requests and the provisions issued, it was not possible to obtain a complete picture of Calvagno's health conditions and the medical treatments he was undergoing. "This judicial authority - we read in the provision - was prevented from having full knowledge of the situation, despite the requests also through the short channels, regularly noted by the registry".
Documents transmitted to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the DAP
Montoneri then ordered the transfer of the documents to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Santa Maria Capua Vetere and to the Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP) to ascertain any responsibilities of the prison director and the health personnel.
The lack of clear answers from the detention facility has raised serious concerns, leading the GIP to request an in-depth investigation into the management methods of detention and medical care provided to Calvagno.
The context of the arrest
Cristian Calvagno was arrested in November 2024 as part of Operation Meteora, which brought to light alleged links with the Santangelo clan of Adrano and the fringe of the Mazzei clan. The investigation, coordinated by the Catania District Anti-Mafia Directorate, involved 18 people, accused of mafia association and other crimes.
Calvagno's release, although dictated by humanitarian reasons, turns the spotlight back on the conditions of inmates in Italian prisons and on the critical issues of the penitentiary system, often at the center of controversy due to the lack of adequate health and psychological assistance.
Article published on March 3, 2025 - 14pm
