Rome – A dramatic turn of events in the fight against drug trafficking in Campania: the Fifth Section of the Court of Cassation has completely overturned the eight-year prison sentence handed down to Massimiliano Imbemba, a key figure linked to the Verde clan.
Yesterday's hearing marked a clear defeat for the prosecution, leaving the verdicts for the other seven defendants intact, while a new chapter in the case of Imbemba's case opens. The decision comes after a deliberation session that examined appeals filed by several members of the Verde clan—active in the municipalities of Sant'Antimo, Grumo Nevano, and Casandrino—and a criminal group involved in drug trafficking between Sant'Antimo and Arzano.
The Supreme Court judges declared the appeals of Antimo Ceparano, Nicola Rinaldo, Angela Belardo, Antimo Belardo, Salvatore Domenico, Gaetano Pecoraro, and Stefano Fantinato inadmissible. Their convictions remain in place, confirming the prosecution's framework outlined in the previous courts.
Antonio Iorio, a repentant, accuses Imbemba.
The only person to secure a clear victory was Imbemba, whose name had emerged as a "privileged insider" within the organization. The charges against him were based on revelations from Antonio Iorio, a former informer and collaborator with justice, who described him as the nephew of Armando Angelino—a prominent boss of the clan—and related to members of the "167 di Arzano" clan.
Corroborating the story is a series of wiretapped telephone conversations which, according to prosecutors, attested to Imbemba's financial availability for the so-called "splitting": massive drug purchases to be channeled through local drug dealing channels.
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But Supreme Court He dismantled the evidentiary system piece by piece. The Supreme Court fully upheld the legal objections raised by Imbemba's lawyers, Dario Vannetiello and Leopoldo Perone, challenging the strength of the arguments presented by the Naples Court of Appeal.
"The lower court's reasons do not stand up to scrutiny," reads the reasons released today, which have caused the entire prosecution's case to collapse. The result: the sentence is completely overturned, with no referral for reconsideration. The case is now in the hands of another section of the Naples Court of Appeal, which will have to conduct the referral from scratch.
A verdict that could redraw the contours of the investigation into Green Clan, one of the most deeply rooted in the Neapolitan hinterland, and which raises questions about the robustness of the evidence gathered against second-level figures in the mafia hierarchies.
For Imbemba, now free after being released from prison awaiting trial, there is a chance to completely reverse his judicial fate. The investigation, launched years ago, continues to dominate the courts of Naples, amidst shadows of family collusion and drug trafficking that continue to plague the Vesuvian neighborhoods.
Comments (2)
The Supreme Court's decision strikes me as odd, because if Imbemba is considered a drug trafficker, how can he be free? The evidence seems clear, and testimony, even from a repentant, should carry weight in the trial.
I agree with you, there are too many unanswered questions. The Verde clan's situation is complex, and this ruling could impact many other investigations. Let's hope the truth comes out eventually.