International FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2017

Germany vows to Gangster head of ‘ overhaul Turkey ties Capitale’ sentenced to 20 years as row escalates : The ringleader of a gang who’s BERLIN: Germany yesterday vowed stinging measures criminal tentacles reached into almost impacting tourism and investment in Turkey and a full every department of Rome’s City Hall was “overhaul” of their troubled relations, signaling its sentenced to 20 years in prison by an patience has snapped after Ankara’s arrests of human Italian court yesterday. Massimo rights activists. Carminati, 59, a convicted gangster with The foreign ministry stepped up its travel adviso- a history of involvement with violent far- ry for the NATO ally, warning it could no longer right groups, had been accused along guarantee its citizens’ safety amid “arbitrary” mass with 45 others of operating a “mafia- arrests, a step set to impact Turkey’s crucial tourism style” network that used , sector. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a day after and theft to divert millions of euros des- summoning Turkey’s ambassador, returned from tined for public services into their own holidays to Berlin to deliver his unusually strong pockets. His right-hand man and fellow comments towards President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. defendant Salvatore Buzzi, 61, was hand- Relations between Turkey and Germany, home to ed a 19-year jail term by the court at the three million ethnic Turks, have been badly strained, capital city’s Rebibbia jail. particularly since the failed coup attempt a year ago The scandal, which led to a 20-month against Erdogan. Gabriel said Germany would review trial in the high-security prison, had been state guarantees for foreign investment in Turkey and dubbed “” by the media. But urge businesses against putting their money there, ROME: This file photo shows prosecutor Giuseppe Cascini, left, speaking next to judge Rosanna Ianniello said Carminati and also review its support for EU financial flows to the Buno Giosue Naso (center), the lawyer of (right), at Rome’s and Buzzi were guilty of but long-time aspirant to membership of the bloc. A Social tribunal, on the opening day of the Mafia Capitale trial, a case related to the not of mafia association. “The sentence is Democrat, Gabriel made clear he was speaking for the alleged infiltration of City Hall by a mafia network. — AFP stiff, but the whole trial revolved around coalition government led by conservative Chancellor aimed at cutting mafia inmates off com- Sergio told media at the court that the trial Angela Merkel and that she had cleared the tough the question: ‘Was it mafia or not?’,” pletely from their former criminal associ- was “ridiculous. Massimo is still paying for statement before. Carminati’s lawyer Ippolita Naso said. ates. “The 41-bis will have to be repealed. the 1980s”. In 1983, Buzzi received a 30- He recalled that Turkey, having long seen itself as “‘Mafia Capitale does not exist,” she said. But who will give Carminati back the 22 year prison sentence for the of an “a member of the European family”, had leveled Nazi Of the 46 people on trial, five were acquit- months spent under it?” lawyer Giosue accomplice in a forged cheques racket. He jibes at Germany, and accused Erdogan of worsening ted, including two men accused by prose- Bruno Naso said. Carminati and Buzzi served only six years after pursuing his a crisis that Berlin had repeatedly sought to ease cutors of being the link between the crimi- watched the verdict by video conference, education and successfully portraying through dialogue. He accused Erdogan of trying to nal band and the powerful ‘Ndrangheta Carminati standing to hear his sentence himself as a reformed character. muzzle “every critical voice” with mass arrests in mafia in Calabria in southern Italy. while Buzzi sat and took notes. The Rome scandal had been a major fac- sweeping crackdowns since the failed coup against One-eyed Carminati was given a 10- tor in leaving the city so cash-strapped it him just over a year ago. Gabriel stressed that Deep wound Germany still wanted to rebuild relations with its Carminati and Buzzi were already year prison term in 1998 for membership can barely afford to repair its buses when long-time ally, while urging Erdogan’s government behind bars in prisons in Parma and of the , a criminal they break down, fill potholes in its streets “to return to European values”. —AFP Tolmezzo where they were kept under crew which ruled Rome’s underworld in or prevent trees from falling over for lack of the notoriously harsh 41-bis regime, the 1970s and 1980s. Carminati’s brother upkeep. — AFP