ALLEGED mafioso Vito Palazzolo has turned the tables on the Western Cape police and laid a charge of defamation of character against police management for a report last year that named him as head of the Western Cape mafia. The Cape Times reports that Palazzolo has filed a civil action in the Cape High Court, claiming R5-million for each of three claims he considers libelous. The claims relate to a report commissioned by the Presidential Investigative Task Unit, and written by policemen Piet Viljoen and Justin Smith. Viljoen told the Cape Times that the three claims relate to allegations in the report that Palazzolo was the head of a regional mafia, that he had “bought” certain policemen, and that he used money to charm people. Police management are opposing the action in court.