Francesco Schiavone, alias Sandokan, has decided to collaborate with justice following 26 years of hard prison. He was detained in L’Aquila, in the maximum security unit in a hard prison regime, the Casalesi boss, now 70 years old. According to what we learn, from the cell he sent a request to meet with the magistrates of the National Anti-Mafia Directorate, now led by the prosecutor Giovanni Melillo, to start the first talks for collaboration with justice. In 2018 and 2021, two other sons of Sandokan had already repented: first Nicola, then Walter Schiavone. The news was received in two ways: those who celebrate and those who are sceptical. Roberto Saviano certainly falls into the latter category. On X the author of «Gomorrah» wrote: «Will it really be like this? Will he collaborate by giving important information or will he do like his children and wife (and other former bosses) who have said very little to date? Aware of the weakness of the State in its search only to be able to communicate repentance, will it be enough for him to provide some evidence of murder, some bribe and avoid life imprisonment?”. Yes, because the fear of many is that the ex-boss’ move is just a way to avoid a life sentence which would not allow him to leave prison even following 30 years of imprisonment.
This thesis is supported by the timing of the surrender which came a few months before the release of his son Emanuele Schiavone, who is expected to be released at the end of his sentence by the summer. For Undersecretary Delmastro «it is a testimony to how much this instrument (repentance, ed.) is a pillar of the penitentiary and justice system and further proof of the need to defend it from attacks. Harsh prison works: we must never lose hope of defeating the mafia.” A bipartisan enthusiasm. From the Democratic Party, Sandro Ruotolo says: «His repentance will be able to help reconstruct crucial moments, such as Antonio Bardellino’s passage from the Camorra of Casal di Principe». Sandokan’s first arrest as a fugitive took place in France, in Nice, in 1989, when Schiavone was already considered to be at the top of the Casalesi together with Iovine and Bidognetti. Released from prison due to expiration of the terms by the court of Santa Maria Capua Vetere pending extradition, Sandokan resumed leadership of the clan from abroad. Returning to Italy, following an acquittal he served a residual sentence of just 3 months in prison in 1992, before disappearing from the radar following the start of collaboration by his cousin Carmine Schiavone, who repented in 1993. The capture of Francesco Schiavone occurred on 11 July 1998, when the Casalesi boss was found in a bunker in Casal di Principe, his city of origin.
At the moment, the contents of the first explanatory minutes are classified. But, as usually happens with justice collaborators, excellent crimes are confessed in the first interviews. Among Schiavone’s revelations, there might be confirmation of his rise to the top of the Casalesi clan and the murder of Antonio Bardellino, killed in Brazil in 1988, a crime that allowed him to take command of the Camorra organisation. Among Sandokan’s secrets there might also be relations with politics and business in Caserta and its province.
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2024-03-30 23:06:35
