Italian police on Monday arrested a well-connected and seemingly respectable architect in Sicily who they believe has taken over the command of the most powerful Mafia clan in the city of Palermo.
Giuseppe Liga Italian police arrested Liga, 60, believed to have inherited command of the most powerful Cosa Nostra clan in Palermo. Liga, a well-known architect who claimed to have a range of political connections, was named by informants as having taken over the Lo Piccolo family after clan chiefs Salvatore Lo Piccolo and his brother Sandro were arrested in 2007.
(Franco Lannino/EPA)Investigators have been on Giuseppe Liga's trail for the past two years since they found references to him in pizzini -- coded messages used by clan members to communicate -- found in their secret hide outs. During the long and intricate investigation, Liga's phones were tapped, his home bugged and he was secretly videoed and taped as he went about his daily business in the city.
Italian TV news yesterday showed police video of what they say is him receiving an envelope stuffed with extortion money. Four mafia clan-members-turned-state-witness have told investigators that Liga took over the Lo Piccolo "family business" after the clan boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo, and his brother Sandro, were arrested in November 2007.
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