‘The Panther’, ‘Big Nose’ star in ‘NDrangheta mafia trial

More than 350 members of Italy’s richest and most secretive mafia — the ‘NDrangheta — as well as police accused of being on its payroll set to go to trial in a special 1000-seat courtroom.

A view shows one of multiple televisions screens set up in a special courtroom on prior to the opening of the 'Rinascita-Scott' maxi-trial, in which more than 350 alleged members of Calabria's 'Ndrangheta mafia group and their associates go on trial in Lamezia Terme, Calabria. Picture: AFP

Hundreds of lawyers, police and defendants drew breath as they filed into Italy’s newest and largest courtroom yesterday (Wednesday) for the start of the country’s biggest mafia trial in 30 years.

“I’m impressed, it’s beautiful,” Leopoldo Marchese, a lawyer, said before adding: “Is there a smoking area? It’s raining outside.”

Set up in a former call centre near Lamezia Terme in Calabria, south Italy, the room, with 1,000 seats and 70 defendants sitting in five cages, is ready for a trial that could last three years and in which 355 alleged members of Italy’s richest and most secretive mafia — the ‘NDrangheta — face justice along with politicians and police accused of being on its payroll.

A sign reading “Bunker Room” points the way to the special courtroom that will host the Rinascita-Scott maxi-trial. Picture: AFP

“This trial will help us understand the evolution of a mafia that shoots less but has more ties with government officials,” Nicola Gratteri, a prosecutor, told journalists over the shoulder of his armed bodyguards.

“In a few months, during a pandemic, we have built a unique COVID-friendly courtroom with 150 video links,” he said, adding that he was pleased but keeping his cool: “I have done this since 1986 — I am trained to control my emotions.”

Mr Gratteri, 62, has led the fight against the ‘NDrangheta, watching it develop into arguably Europe’s biggest cocaine importer with an annual turnover of €50 billion. From the legions of lawyers inside the courtroom, it was clear that the alleged mobsters had little trouble paying their legal bills.

Italian anti-mafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri. Picture: AFP

Mr Marchese said that he was representing six defendants charged with extortion and robbery. “They are in jails such as Frosinone and Cosenza and will connect via video conference,” he said.

As he spoke, jailed defendants with nicknames such as “the Panther”, “Leg of Lamb”, “Wolf”, “Big Nose”, “The Baron” and “Lele the Swiss” were appearing on the screens hanging from the ceiling.

The trial targets the Mancuso clan from the Vibo Valentia province in Calabria, one of the most powerful within the ‘NDrangheta. “I think every penal lawyer from Vibo Valentia is in this room,” Michelangelo Miceli, a lawyer representing ten defendants, said.

The 1,242 pages of trial documents detail the mafia’s power over every grocer, builder and farmer in Calabria.

A view of the special courtroom hosting the trial of Calabria's 'Ndrangheta mafia group. Picture: AFP

The prosecutors claim that Luigi “The Uncle” Mancuso, the alleged boss of the clan, also used his “criminal charisma” to buy politicians, including a former senator. His lawyer, Paride Scinica, said: “He’s calm, he’s tranquil, he says he is not the head of the organisation.”

Even lawyers have allegedly been corrupted, including some of those in the courtroom, according to Diego Brancia, representing 32 of the accused. “I have resisted, but it’s easy to get involved, for instance being asked by clients in jail to pass messages to the outside world,” he said.

The trial began with hours of procedural wrangling but Mr Gratteri said it was all worth it. “Ten years ago people trembled when they talked about the ‘NDrangheta. In the past two years we have seen a leap in the number of businesses denouncing them,” he said.

THE TIMES