‘Ndrangheta, the repentant Antonio Accorinti in the courtroom at the Maestrale-Carthago maxi-trial: the clan supported the mayors of Briatico

Four mayors of Briatico, a tourist center in the Vibo area, would have been supported electorally over the years by the local Accorinti clan. This is what was stated in the courtroom by the justice collaborator, Antonio Accorintitestifying before the Court of Vibo Valentia in Maestrale-Carthag maxitrialor. «I secretly met in the evening at my house with the then mayor Andrea Niglia – declared the collaborator – who on several occasions asked me for the support of the clan in exchange for departments or jobs. On the other hand, in order not to present a list opposed to his and so as not to make him lose the elections, I asked him for fifty thousand euros.” Three of these municipal administrations of Briatico (mayors Costantino Massara, Francesco Prestia and Andrea Niglia) were then dissolved due to mafia infiltration in 2003, 2012 and 2018. The collaborator also claimed that in the last municipal elections of 2020 he instead diverted the clan’s votes to the current mayor of Briatico «Lidio Vallone, instead making people believe I would never have voted – said the collaborator – for Massara’s opposing list”. Andrea Niglia he was also president of the Province of Vibo Valentia and is currently accused in the Maestrale trial (shortened trial) for the crime of fraud aggravated by mafia purposes in relation to a public competition.