Naples - Two well-known names in the Neapolitan restaurant industry—Maurizio Attrattivo and Gabriele Emanuele Capparelli—are among the 19 arrested in yesterday's major raid that dismantled what investigators call "the business arm of the Licciardi clan."
A presence that, in the 1280 pages of the precautionary order signed by investigating judge Federica De Bellis, takes on much more profound contours than their public image would have led one to imagine.
According to the documents, Attrattivo was a client of the clan, Capparelli was the victim to be brought to heel, and the entire affair revolves around a multi-million dollar deal: control of the “Riva Alta” restaurant, formerly Giuseppone a Mare, in the prestigious setting of Posillipo.
The €40 loan and the beating of the partner: "It belongs to us."
At the heart of the investigation is a €40 debt that Attrattivo claims to owe to his partner Capparelli for his exit from Riva Alta Srl.
A business dispute that, according to the Prosecutor's Office, was immediately "entrusted" to the Licciardi clan to be resolved using known methods.
The order is clear: Attractive “he turned to the clan, in the person of Paolo Abbatiello, to force Capparelli to pay.”
The pressure soon turns into violence: the investigating judge reconstructs two beatings - on 16 and 30 September 2022 - in which Capparelli was allegedly hit by the men of the clan, “hit on two occasions… to enforce weekly payment.”
Wiretaps reveal the criminal pedagogy used to persuade the recalcitrant partner. In one phone call, speaking about Attrattivo's wife, Esposito Luigi explicitly states: "She belongs to us... we decide what she should do."
And again, to another individual who had offended the woman: "Maurizio's wife belongs to them." A way of underlining that everything surrounding the entrepreneur was under the "cover" of the gang.
Maurizio Attrattivo: zero income, luxury properties and a business empire
The ordinance dedicates an entire chapter to Maurizio Attrattivo, described as a restaurant entrepreneur but, at the same time, without any official income.
The asset checks speak clearly: "He has never had any documented work, nor has he declared any income in the last decade," yet he owns properties in the Riva Fiorita area, one of the most exclusive in Naples.
Since 2019, Attrattivo has been listed as the owner or partner in various businesses, including Caffetteria Rivalta and Riva Alta Srl itself. The latter, founded with Capparelli in September 2021, leases the historic "Giuseppone a Mare" restaurant for 180 euros a year.
However, the company declared a turnover of €236 in 2021, compared to €46 in purchases. This discrepancy, according to investigators, represents one of the many indicators of the company's opaque management.
The first shadows: meetings, telephone calls and stalking
The first trace of Attrattivo on the clan's radar appears on June 16, 2022, when the Carabinieri document a meeting at the Rivalta Cafeteria: he, Luigi Esposito and Luigi Damasco, the trusted driver of Paul Abbatiello, apical figure of the Licciardi.
From that moment on, Attrattivo became a stable point of reference because Esposito met him in Posillipo, updated him on interventions to be carried out and, finally, offered "mediation" for disputes and problems that arose in the restaurant.
One day, while talking to his girlfriend, Esposito recounts having scolded a man for insulting Attrattivo's wife. He does so with a revealing phrase: "I told him Maurizio's wife belongs to them." This confirms that Attrattivo is not an outsider: he is "absorbed" into the clan's sphere of influence.
The fights inside the restaurant and the intervention of the Camorra
On August 7, 2022, Attrattivo called Esposito in a state of agitation: "There's a fight at the restaurant... even the criminals intervened." The entrepreneur monitored the scene live via an app connected to the restaurant's video surveillance system.
Esposito suggests taking the action himself: "If you're interested, I'll come..." But Attrattivo urges him not to move because "certain characters from Posillipo" are on site.
Investigators will then document a meeting on August 8th between Esposito, Attrattivo, and Capparelli, called specifically to "settle" that dispute.
Attractivo can be heard complaining in the background: "The situation didn't end well... I didn't like it yesterday", mentioning the fact that Paolo Abbatiello himself had decided not to show up at the club "so as not to cause a disturbance".
Attrattivo's total submission to the clan: "I'm making myself available."
The most revealing part of the order is contained in the wiretap of October 19, 2022: a long, tense conversation between Maurizio Attrattivo and Paolo Abbatiello.
Attrattivo demonstrates his loyalty. His words are unequivocal: "I'm available." And he admits to laundering money from credit card fraud, believing the proceeds should end up in the clan's coffers.
Abbatiello, however, harshly rebukes him: Esposito Luigi—who did business using the clan's name—hadn't sent him a single euro, "just a pair of shoes," the boss says ironically.
Attrattivo is shocked: "I thought Esposito was acting on your behalf... that's why I gave him the money." In that same conversation, Abbatiello clarifies that he will be in charge of recovering the debt from Capparelli, but also that Esposito will no longer be able to demand anything. Most importantly, from now on, Attrattivo will only be able to speak with Salvatore Sapio, another affiliate. The entrepreneur complies.
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