Melito - A dramatic turn of events has broken in the investigation into the car wash targeted by the Amato-Pagano clan. After last month's raid, the group's alleged leader, Pietro Caiazza, aka "Uncle Pierino," is free. Or almost.
The investigating judge of the Court of Naples, accepting the request submitted by his lawyer, Domenico Dello Iacono, ordered the release of the leader, replacing the precautionary measure with house arrest in the province of Pescara.
Caiazza had been arrested on charges of attempted extortion against the owner of a car wash in Melito, an incident that – according to investigators – was a manifestation of the clan's economic control over the area.
During the preliminary hearing, "Uncle Pierino" denied all charges, claiming that the business in question had previously belonged to a family member, a circumstance which, he claimed, justified the request for clarification from the new manager. "I never asked for anything, I just wanted to understand what had happened," the alleged boss reportedly told the judge.
The defense argued that there were no precautionary measures and that the evidence was weak, thus obtaining approval for the least punitive measure.
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Meanwhile, the 60-year-old has left Secondigliano prison to reach the Abruzzo town where he will serve his sentence.
According to investigations by the Naples Flying Squad, the alleged boss sent two emissaries, identified as Savio and Gennaro, to "summon" the car wash owner. The victim, interviewed by investigators, described two close encounters that occurred between April 1st and 2nd.
"'Uncle Pierino' wanted to talk to me because he said the car wash had always been his," the entrepreneur reported. The next day, the two emissaries returned to the attack: "They told me they'd come pick me up that afternoon to take me to Caiazza. Then Savio took me aside and confided that 'Uncle Pierino' wanted the keys, because the business had always been his."
This pressure, according to investigators, appears to be an attempt to reassert the clan's presence in the Melito area, where the Amato-Pagano clan continues to compete for space and business with rival groups.
Now, with Caiazza's release from prison, the legal case enters a new phase: the trial, requested as an immediate proceeding, will have to determine whether that "request for clarification" was actually an extortion attempt or simply a misunderstanding between the old and new owners.
Comments (1)
Caiazza's situation is truly complex, but his release from prison doesn't seem right given the context. The ownership of the car wash must be clarified as soon as possible to avoid future conflicts.