Antonio Iovine, a powerful boss of the Casalesi mafia clan, told investigators that the bribe was paid to guarantee his acquittal at the court, Tgcom24 reported on Wednesday.
It was part of a “structure that twisted around the Naples courthouse,” Iovine was quoted in Tgcom24 as saying.
The mafia boss was let off from the charges, relating to a double murder in Caserta, although later confessed to the crime.
The prosecutor’s office in Rome has opened a case file to investigate Iovine’s claims, Tgcom24 reported.
The allegations of corruption is one of a number of revelations expected to come from Iovine, who authorities said last month had turned state witness.
Known as the mafia clan’s “finance minister”, Iovine spent 14 years on the run before being captured in November 2010. He is one of the most high-profile Italian criminals to turn state witness.
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