A trial that will begin at the end of November will establish whether a mafia-style association existed in Sardinia that linked together a part of the criminal world with institutional and political circles .

The ruling was made by Luca Melis, the preliminary hearing judge of the Cagliari Court, who ordered 25 indictments , but also a summary sentence of 2 years and 8 months for Thomas Littarru , and four plea bargains granted to Marco Zanardi (one year and 8 months), Andrea Daga (one year and a half), Alessia Deidda (one year and eight months), and Alice Deidda (two years), all with suspended sentences. Healthcare managers Massimo Temussi and Giorgio Carboni were acquitted of all charges.

The investigation by the Cagliari District Anti-Mafia Directorate—led by prosecutors Rossana Allieri and Emanuele Secci—concerns an alleged criminal organization believed to operate between Cagliari, Barbagia, and other areas of Sardinia, with ramifications in Northern Italy.

At the center of the investigation by the Carabinieri ROS (Special Operations Squad), a well-known figure from the criminal past, Nicolò Cossu, is identified as the instigator and leader of the syndicate. He is supported, among others, by Tonino Crissantu , the Cagliari-born doctor Tommaso Cocco , the rector of the University of Sassari, Gavino Mariotti , the former regional councilor Gabriella Murgia , Antonio Giuseppe Mesina , and Giovanni Mercurio . Paolo Murgia's case on the mafia charge was dismissed because the preliminary investigation did not allow for a reasonable conviction. Battista Mele's case was dismissed due to his death.

According to the DDA, the group pursued a dual objective: on the one hand, it exercised control over drug trafficking for only some of the suspects, while others developed a network of relationships with representatives of institutions, healthcare, politics, and the professions to obtain favors, positions, protection, and confidential information.

Doctor Tommaso Cocco is also accused of revealing secrets and making false statements, related to his role as medical director of the Sardinian Health Authority and the management of the Binaghi Pain Therapy Unit.

The main lines of investigation also include aiding and abetting the fugitive Graziano Mesina , with the involvement of numerous suspects in managing the fugitives' movements and hideouts.

Thirty-four people were implicated in the investigation, but the DDA charged only some with mafia-style association and secret conspiracy. After the investigation was concluded, prosecutor Emanuele Secci requested the indictment of Alessandro Arca, Giorgio Carboni, Tommaso Cocco, Nicolò Cossu, Vito Maurizio Cossu, Tonino Crissantu, Andrea Daga, Alessia Deidda, Alice Deidda, Vincenzo Deidda, Antonio Fadda, Mario Antonio Floris, Giuseppe Paolo Frongia, Anna Gioi, Raffaele Gioi, Salvatore Gioi, Marco Lai, Tomas Littarru, Gavino Mariotti, Antonio Marteddu, Battista Mele, Giovanni Mercurio, Riccardo Mercuri, Antonio Giuseppe Mesina, Serafino Monni, Desiderio Mulas, Marco Muntoni, Gabriella Murgia, Paolo Murgia, Antonio Michele Pinna, Alessandro Rocca, Paolo Sale, Massimo Temussi, and Marco Zanardi.

Today, preliminary hearing judge Luca Melis read the three rulings: one sentenced the only defendant who had requested a summary trial, Thomas Littarru (two years and eight months, with the aggravating circumstance of mafia involvement), but against the four years requested by the prosecution. The second ruling granted the four plea bargains, all with suspended sentences. The third ruling ordered that all the others—except Temussi and Carboni, for whom all charges were dropped—belong to the trial of November 28th before the judges of the Second Criminal Section of the Court of Cagliari.

© Riproduzione riservata