Vincenzo "Niko" Pandetta, the 35-year-old trapper from Catania who was the subject of one of 36 pre-trial detention orders issued by the preliminary investigations judge of the Messina court at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, was questioned today. Connected via video conference from the maximum security prison in Voghera, where he was transferred overnight from the Sondrio prison for unspecified security reasons, Pandetta answered the judge's questions, maintaining his complete innocence.
The investigation
The operation was carried out by the Carabinieri in Messina. The charges, contested on various counts, include conspiracy to traffic narcotics and conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to communication devices by prisoners, both aggravated by mafia methods. The suspects also face charges of trafficking and possession of narcotics and psychotropic substances, corruption, failure to perform official duties, and assault and threats against a public official.
The profile
A neomelodic singer, author of the album "Malavita," and nephew of historic Catania mafia boss Salvatore "Turi" Cappello, Pandetta had already been issued a precautionary custody order last June by the Catania investigating judge, at the request of the local Anti-Mafia Directorate, for drug trafficking charges deemed aggravated by aiding and abetting two mafia clans. Arrested in Milan in October 2022, he is serving a four-year and five-month prison sentence for drug dealing and tax evasion. The order was later overturned by the Court of Liberty.
The defense
Before the investigating judge, Pandetta reiterated that he had never been affiliated with any mafia clan, except, according to the defense, "for investigative convictions."
His lawyer, Riccardo Floris of the Cagliari court, attacks the prosecution's case: "Pandetta was implicated, completely gratuitously, by three informants completely unknown to him, whose accusatory statements are not supported by the investigative documents."
Hence the request made to the judge: "I have requested the immediate revocation of the enforcement order, given the total lack of the legally required circumstantial evidence and the serious lack of any precautionary requirement. We are awaiting the district judge's decision."
Floris specified that, in any case, he will evaluate the possibility of filing a request for review with the Messina Court of Appeal.