Marco Raduano, the Foggia-born boss of the Vieste clan who escaped from Badu 'e Carros prison on February 24, 2023, and is now a cooperating witness, received a one-year and eight-month prison sentence . Salvatore Deledda, a prison officer from Siniscola serving in the Nuoro prison, was sentenced to five years on charges of aggravated corruption.
These are the two demands that symbolize the iron fist advocated by the Cagliari District Anti-Mafia Office, which yesterday – through prosecutor Danilo Tronci – called for heavy sentences for twelve defendants, all implicated, in various capacities, in the network of complicity that allegedly facilitated the Apulian boss's fugitive status.
The escape, Tronci emphasized during his closing speech, is considered "extremely serious," not only because of the cinematic manner in which it occurred , and those images of the boss lowering himself with a sheet from the surrounding wall, but above all because of the mafia context in which it occurred. The prosecutor's office disputes the aggravating circumstance of Article 416-bis, for having acted with the aim of facilitating the activities of the mafia clan based in Vieste, of which Raduano was the promoter and leader until April 2024.
In addition to Raduano and Deledda, the prosecutor has requested sentences ranging from eight months to over seven years for ten other defendants. For Martino Contu, the request is seven years and two months. Massimiliano Demontis faces four years and two months, while for Marco Furfaro and Daniele Peron, the prosecutor has requested four years and eight months. For Antonio Gusinu and Elio Gusinu, the request is five years, while for Mauro Gusinu, it is four years and eight months.
Marco Rinaldi is seeking six years, while Tommaso Ruffert is seeking five. Finally, the prosecutor has requested eight months in prison for Gianluigi Troiano, another defendant now a collaborator.
According to the Prosecutor's Office's reconstruction, Raduano's escape—caught on prison cameras as the boss lowered himself from an internal courtyard with knotted sheets—was made possible thanks to a network of external supporters, including farmers, supporters, and individuals within the prison system. Salvatore Deledda himself, according to the prosecution, provided logistical support to the boss in exchange for money, facilitating his escape. The proceedings were held in Cagliari following the DDA raid and the subsequent questioning of Raduano, who has become a cooperating witness and is now ready to testify in various strands of the trial.
All twelve defendants chose to proceed with the summary trial, waiving the right to hear witnesses. Only two defendants—Antonio Mangia and Pietro Tolu, farmers from Orune—chose the ordinary trial, currently underway before the Court of Nuoro. Their defense is represented by lawyer Giancarmelo Serra.
The defendants are assisted by a multi-disciplinary defense team, composed of lawyers Giuseppe Talanas, Gianluca Aste, Stefano Stochino, Erika Dessì, Francesco Marongiu, Sergio Milia, Giampaolo Murrighile, Potito Flagella, and Agostinangelo Marras.