Luigi de Magistris (magistrate)

Luigi de Magistris (born in Naples in 1967) is an Italian prosecutor. He started his career as a public prosecutor in 1995 and worked in Naples from 1998 to 2002. He has been deputy public prosecutor in Catanzaro, Italy, since 2002. His investigations have frequently focused on links between the Mafia and politicians.

In Catanzaro, he worked for several years on the "Poseidone" investigation into misuse by politicians of European Comunity subsidies for sewage filter systems and other business projects in Calabria. The "Poseidone" case was taken away from Luigi de Magistris, and as was the "Why Not" investigation in which the names of well-known politicians have come up. This investigation was due to be wound up after nearly two years and the persons involved formally indicted. Another case that de Magistris has been involved with is "Le Toghe Lucane", in Basilicata. One of the people to be questioned by de Magistris was Henry John Woodcock, a public prosecutor in Basilicata.

As his recent investigations involve famous names such as Romano Prodi, the Italian prime Minister and Clemente Mastella, the Italian Minister of Justice, de Magistris has been at the centre of media controversy. There have been articles and interviews in several Italian national newspapers, such as La Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Corriere della Sera. He has also made some controversial appearances on national television RAI2 programs like "Annozero" (4/10 2007). Well-known Italian journalist Marco Travaglio has written several articles supporting him.

The Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella recently asked that Luigi de Magistris be transferred because he had allegedly revealed Mastella's name as well as those of other Italian politicians apparently involved in his investigations. [http://www1.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9657204] . De Magistris appears before the CSM (the governing board of the magistracy) in January 2008 to defend himself against the serious allegations of the Minister and his inspectors. [http://blogs.spokenword.ac.uk/mokblog/2007/10/08/de-magistris-hearing-put-off-until-december/]

The Economist also mentions Luigi de Magistris "whose investigations have shaken Basilicata's magistracy". [http://www1.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9657204]

Famous investigations

Poseidone

The European Anti-Fraud Office [http://ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/index_en.html (OLAF)] started the enquiry and handed it over to Luigi De Magistrisi in May 2005. Investigations started in May 2005 into an allegedly illegal use of 200 million € of European Comunity funds. ] Luigi De Magistris has been removed from the investigation with the accusation that De Magistris did not keep the details of the case confidential and revealed the names of people under investigation, including Forza Italia senator Giancarlo Pittelli and general Walter Lombardo Cretella.

Why Not

This investigation is about illegal use of public funding. The name of the Italian Minister of Justice Clemente Mastella appears in the investigation, thanks to his contacts with Antonio Saladino, a key figure in the enquiry.

Toghe Lucane

[http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/GdM_cronache_NOTIZIA_01.asp?IDCategoria=273&IDNotizia=183692]

External links

* [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:5xWAPbItpHgJ:ec.europa.eu/anti_fraud/press_room/rctf/art/espresso-20070403_en.pdf+%22de+magistris%22+/site:.europa.eu/&hl=sv&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=se "The lodge of deals" in Espresso, 5 april 2007, translated into English on the site of OLAF]
* [http://www1.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9657204 Article about Luigi de Magistris in The Economist]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQt0PdNNWeg Luigi de Magistris about "The relations between mafia, politicians and unknown powers", Soverato (CZ) 22/8/07.]
* [http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=cgO9CZRzn3U Interview in Italian of Luigi de Magistris from the Casalinuovo hall in Catanzaro]
* [http://www.radioradicale.it/scheda/231227/intervista-al-magistrato-luigi-de-magistris-sulla-criminalita-organizzata]
* [http://blogs.spokenword.ac.uk/mokblog/2007/01/01/udc-until-proven-guilty/]