A religious sister was placed under house arrest in northern Italy after a nearly four-month investigation by prosecutors revealed she allegedly used her prison ministry to connect local mafia bosses with inmates. Source: Catholic Review.
According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Sister of Charity Sr Anna Donelli was among 25 individuals arrested on December 5 in a major sting operation in the northern Italian city of Brescia targeting a mob family with ties to the ‘Ndragheta organised crime syndicate, one of the world’s most powerful, extensive and wealthy drug-trafficking groups based in Calabria.
Among the charges included in the case’s arrest warrants were robbery, extortion, usury, false invoices, arms and drug trafficking, as well as vote-buying. Police also seized 1.8 million euros ($A2.9 million) and conducted searches in several major Italian cities, including Reggio Calabria, Milan, Como, Verona and Treviso.
Sr Anna denied the allegations against her in a statement to Corriere della Sera through her lawyer, Roberto Ranieli.
Calling the accusations “shameful,” the sister said she always “sought to foster positive human relationships.”
“I trust the investigators will want to hear what I have to say soon,” she said.
“Anyone who knows her well cannot believe she intentionally committed the crimes she’s accused of,” Mr Ranieli said.
Several other people, including prominent politicians were arrested.
Prosecutors said Sr Anna allegedly provided the mafia clan, led by Stefano Tripodi and his son, Francesco, with “spiritual assistance in prisons to convey messages between members of the criminal organisation and those detained in prison.”
“She somehow made herself available to the clan to relay information from prison to the Tripodi group,” said lead prosecutor Teodoro Catananti.
Sr Anna is expected to appear in Brescia before a judge for questioning on Friday, her lawyer said.
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Nun accused of allegedly aiding mafia placed under house arrest (Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News via Catholic Review)
