A near-perfect organization and a murder to "pay" for the trouble of his supporters. He was supposed to appear in court in Nuoro a few weeks ago, but his in-person testimony was postponed for security reasons. The decision was then made to proceed via videoconference, from an undisclosed location. The modalities also contributed to the atmosphere of yesterday's hearing: Marco Raduano, the Gargano crime boss who escaped in February 2023 from Badu 'e Carros and is now a cooperating witness, appeared from behind. With only the back of his head in focus, the partial image conveyed a tense and tense atmosphere, where every word seemed to carry weight. The trial involves two men from Oruno, Antonio Mangia and Pietro Antonio Tolu, accused of supporting the fugitive mafioso, defended by lawyers Ivano Iai and Giancarmelo Serra. The other defendants have already been tried under the summary procedure. In the classroom, physical distancing and protective measures accentuated the perception of being faced with a sensitive story.

Evasion and contacts

The former Gargano crime boss answered questions from Cagliari DDA prosecutors Danilo Tronci and Emanuele Secci, before a panel of judges presided over by Elena Meloni, with Filippo Orani and Valentina Rostellato acting as assistant judges. Raduano explained that he had been planning the escape for years, and that 15 days before, his accomplice who was supposed to pick him up had inspected the prison, even sending him a photo of the spot where he was supposed to wait for him via cell phone. For years, he studied the prison's vulnerabilities: "I implemented what I had planned, studying the facility's flaws and using information gathered from the inmates." According to him, the "active" help of another inmate, Angelo Frigeri (who committed suicide shortly after his transfer from Badu 'e Carros to Uta), who allegedly provided him with tools and guidance, was crucial. Raduano also spoke of the widespread availability of micro-cell phones within the prison, one of which was allegedly provided to him by Vincenzo Mele. During his detention, he reported having developed close relationships with several Sardinian inmates, including Martino Contu and Antonio Mangia, cellmates opposite him, with whom he allegedly shared secrets, including plans to escape.

Between Bitti, Orune and Padru

After the escape, Raduano recounted that the plan suddenly changed. The first driver was stopped by the police and hid for a few days in Nuoro, where he was later helped in his escape: "I went into the city and found refuge in an empty house for four days. Then another driver, Tommaso Ruffert, arrived." From there, he apparently reached Bitti, where he was met by Contu (the only point of reference he had after changing plans was Contu's tobacco shop in Bitti), and then Orune, where Mangia, identified as one of the places where he was on the run, met him. According to his version, Mangia and others then moved him to a farmhouse and then to Padru, where he remained for approximately four months, hiding among farmhouses, tents, and a cave. He described traveling in multiple vehicles, including an SUV and a dark Mitsubishi believed to be Mangia's.

The support network

In his deposition, the collaborator named several individuals as members of the network that allegedly supported him while he was on the run: among them Antonio Gusinu, Pasquale Scanu, and other individuals, he claimed, linked to a criminal "consortium" rooted in the area. "With the Sardinians, there was more than just trust; there was an alliance," he said. He also claimed there was a broader agreement with the Corsicans. Among the most serious passages, Raduano referred to the murder of Paul-Félix Paoli, which took place in Corsica, as a "debt payment": "I repaid my debt with a murder," he stated, reporting that the agreement had been made in Sardinia with Sardinians and Corsicans. Raduano explained that he initially omitted or altered some information out of fear: "I was afraid for my family and for the structure of the Sardinian group, which was highly organized."

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