Amanda Knox Supported by Silvio Berlusconi

Justice

Amanda Knox, an American student in Perugia, her then boyfriend, an Italian Raffaele Solecito, and Rudy Guede were convicted of the murder of English student Meridith Kercher in a case which has sparked seemingly endless controversy. Now, even Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has become … [Read more...]

Reverse Money Laundering

Clean or Dirty Money?

I was chatting to a journalist friend of mine at Il Sole 24 Ore the other day. Said journalist, Stefano Elli, specializes in investigating financial crime and he's told me about some of the goings on in Italy he's been looking into - plots and counter plots, schemes and more, but the latest … [Read more...]

Italy – The Vatican and the Mafia

When mention is made of Italy, mixed in with thoughts of pasta and wine will be the Vatican and, the mafia.With regard to which springs to mind first, Vatican or mafia, I have no idea, but it does not matter really, as both are intrinsically Italian.Yet the Vatican champions the morally … [Read more...]

Corruption and Extortion in Italian

Corrupt Legislation, Vedder Highsmith

Those of you who are not Italian, but read Italian newspapers, will often come across the words 'corruzione' and 'concussione'.  Do you know what 'concussione' means?No, it's got nothing to do with being banged on the head, just in case you were wondering.  That would be too simple.  Such a … [Read more...]

Too Much Power?

Beretta AR70 rifle

Italy decided to put battle dress clad troops on its streets to help maintain law and order just before the summer this year.Aside from a few soldiers hovering around Milan's central station, I had yet to see much evidence of the military on the streets here in Milan, until recently. … [Read more...]