Inter opponent Mauro Rosso remains under house arrest for usury and extortion

He remains under house arrest, charged with conspiracy in usury and extortion Mauro Russo, a former exponent of the Nerazzurra Curva and former partner of Paolo Maldini and Christian Vieri, who were completely uninvolved in the investigation. Russo is charged, originally with Vittorio Boiocchi, historical leader of the Nord shot dead in 2022 on Andrea Beretta's behalf - with having extracted from 2018 to 2020 60 thousand euros to the parking of San Siro entrepreneur, Gherardo Zaccagni. The Court of Cassation rejected Russo's appeal against the precautionary measure.

According to what is stated in the precautionary order, confirmed by the Supreme Court, the suspect would have threatened, directly or indirectly, the manager of some car parks at theMilan Meazza Stadium to pay monthly 'pizzo' (protection money) between 2018 and 2020, sums totalling 60 thousand euro. An act committed between several people united, taking advantage of the position of ultras leader held by Vittorio Baiocchi, who was shot dead in 2022, on the orders of Andrea Beretta, former leader of the Nerazzurri north curve. The defence's thesis, according to which Russo, now extraneous to the environments of the ultras, would have moved only in the interest of Zaccagni, suggesting not to pay Boiocchi but to limit himself to financing some choreography, in order to avoid conflictual relations with the supporters of the North, does not pass.

All without any threats. However, this reconstruction does not coincide with that of the judges, who confirmed the house arrest. For the Supreme Court, it is undisputed that the businessman Zaccagni had to pay a 'tax' to keep quiet in the management of the Mezza car parks. Extortion in favour of exponents of the fanseria, first and foremost Boiocchi. To disprove that the role of mediator was exercised in the interests of the victim, there are the latter's statements, considered reliable, and a series ofinterceptions. From an intercepted dialogue it emerges, in fact, that the same person had affirmed to the co-investigated Giuseppe Carminiti - considered by the investigators to be a direct emanation of the 'ndrangheta in the management of the 'business' at the Meazza - that 'he had acted at the beginning of the extortion relationship, by virtue of a promise made in favour of Boiocchi Vittorio - the sentence reads - recently released from prison and, therefore, also to 'lend a hand' to the extortionist and not only out of friendship or personal interest in protecting the offended person'.

For the judges of legitimacy, this was also a decisive step in affirming malice and confirming the accusatory thesis of Beretta, by now a collaborator of justice, who had supported the leading role of the appellant and the aim - no matter if exclusive or not - of making Boiocchi earn money. The contested order is also convincing with regard to the aggravating circumstance of several persons united. Zaccagni knew he had to deal with the interests of a group. During a dinner at the Ribot restaurant, according to the victim's account, 'the extortion mediation request had been carried out by the applicant in the presence of the co-defendant Carminiti Giuseppe, at the end of the joint meeting with the extortionist and other persons'.

Confirming the need for the precautionary measure was the risk of recidivism, in a context of powerful and articulated unlawfulness 'in which the specific, contested episode was to be inserted,' wrote the Court, 'with repercussions also in relation to the interests of organised Calabrian crime in the management of business connected to football matches at the Meazza Stadium in Milan.