From mistreating his mother to wrongfully claiming the Basic Income Scheme: Bossi Junior’s convictions

Riccardo Bossi’s sentence of one year and four months for mistreating his mother was also upheld on appeal on the very same day that his sentence of two years and six months’ imprisonment for wrongfully claiming the citizenship income through false declarations became final. It was therefore anything but a day to remember for the 47-year-old eldest son of Lega founder Umberto Bossi, born of his marriage to his first wife, Gigliola Guidali.

The Seventh Section of the Court of Cassation has, in fact, declared inadmissible the appeal lodged by the defence against the ruling of the Milan Court of Appeal, which had upheld the verdict handed down at first instance by the Court of Busto Arsizio for fraud against the State. According to the prosecution, between 2020 and 2023, Bossi allegedly obtained, without being entitled to it, approximately €12,800 in basic income, receiving a monthly payment of €280 for 43 months. The payment of the benefit was linked to the payment of rent for a flat from which, however, the man had already been evicted for non-payment of rent about a year before the investigations began. The investigation was launched following a report from the tax authorities. In addition to his prison sentence, Bossi will have to pay the INPS (National Social Security Institute) compensation of 15,000 euros, an amount already recognised as provisional in the first-instance judgement.

Meanwhile, the Milan Court of Appeal has handed down its ruling at second instance, upholding the sentence of one year and four months’ imprisonment imposed by the Varese District Court for mistreatment of his mother in connection with incidents dating back to 2016. Bossi had initially also been charged with causing bodily harm, a charge that was subsequently dropped after his mother withdrew her complaint; however, the charge of ill-treatment, which is prosecuted ex officio, remained. According to the prosecution, Bossi had repeatedly demanded money from his mother, accompanied by aggressive behaviour and outbursts of anger. During the trial, the woman had stated that she had forgiven her son and had re-established a peaceful relationship with him, without bringing a civil claim. However, these circumstances did not alter the outcome of the appeal.

“We will certainly appeal to the Court of Cassation against the conviction handed down on appeal on the charge of ill-treatment,” said his lawyer, Federico Magnante.