He is wanted in Italy and the US, but the SAPS can’t reel in Vito Palazzolo, writes Chiara Carter
Red tape stands between convicted Mafia money launderer Vito Palazzolo and an Italian courtroom.
The Ministry of Justice said this week that Italian authorities asked for Palazzolo to be extradited earlier this year on the basis of his alleged membership of the Mafia, but he could not be sent back to Italy because membership of the Mafia is not a criminal offence in South Africa.
Paul Setsetse, representative for Minister of Justice Dullah Omar, said the Italians were advised earlier this year to resubmit their extradition request. A fresh application had not been received from Italy.
Palazzolo has denied being a Mafia boss. However, the SABC’s investigative programme, Special Assignment, this week showed a range of Italian officials and Mafia experts claiming Palazzolo was indeed a senior member of the Mafia who faced trial if he returned to Italy.
Palazzolo is also wanted in the United States for his role in the “pizza scam” – a heroin money-laundering scheme for which Palazzolo served a prison sentence in Switzerland.
However South Africa’s Interpol head, Director Dave Bruce, said although Palazzolo had been listed as wanted by Interpol, there was nothing to indicate a notice had been posted advising about a warrant for his arrest.
A police presidential task unit charged with investigating Palazzolo has operated in fits and starts producing several intelligence reports but no hard evidence that he is involved in criminal activity in South Africa.
The unit, which has consulted with Italian police, produced several intelligence reports that claim links between Palazzolo and suspected international as well as local criminals. International monitoring of Palazzolo’s telephone calls lists contacts with alleged criminals in Italy, Hong Kong, London and the United States.
Palazzolo’s lawyer, Norman Snitcher, denied his client knowingly made contact with international criminals.
The intelligence reports also claim Palazzolo has substantial Angolan interests, including links to four extensive diamond concessions which are partly owned by senior members of the Angolan government and security establishment. Snitcher said his client did not have concessions or business partnerships with these people in Angola.
Police agents have also provided information claiming Palazzolo is linked to shady characters in South Africa – another claim denied by Snitcher. However, all the unit’s intelligence gathering has not translated into a single charge. Instead, the unit has been beset by difficulties, including information leaks, threats of legal action from people named in its reports and the suspension of its head, Director Andr Lincoln, who faces 46 charges of fraud and theft.
And it emerged this week that another Sicilian, said to be a top Mafia Don, might have been hiding in South Africa earlier this year. Another two fugitives from Italian justice previously hid at Palazzolo’s Franschhoek farm in the Western Cape, which was subsequently raided by police.
Palazzolo goes on trial in absentia in Italy this month and this week the FBI placed him on their most-wanted list – but he looks set to remain in South Africa.
Detectives are now waiting for information from Italian police who are interrogating a senior Mafia Don, Mariano Tullio Troia, alleged to have hidden in South Africa earlier this year. Police in Palermo arrested Troia last month after he returned to the city at the request of the Mafia’s chair.
According to Snitcher, Palazzolo only heard that Italian authorities wanted two other fugitives who previously hid in south Africa – Giovanni Bonomo and Giuseppe Gelardi – after they had left.
South African authorities believe a South African Mafia family has been established. Intelligence reports claim Palazzolo heads a “family” consisting of eight people.
The police probe is not limited to Cape Town. It includes an investigation into a Gauteng businessman and his brother who, according to intelligence reports, own property worth R75-million and launder R8-million a month. Since 1995, the South African Police Service (SAPS)has received requests from Italian police for assistance in investigating the brothers.