(15 Dec 1995) Italian/Nat
The former Italian Premier Giulio Andreotti, who's charged with links to the Mafia, has made a rare appearance at his trial in Rome.
He turned up to hear evidence from the first of the prosecution's Mafia turncoats, a Sicilian politician who took the stand under heavy police protection.
The entire trial was moved from Palermo, the capital of the Mafia's heartland because it was considered too dangerous to have informers appear there.
Prosecutors brought out their first major witness in the Rome courtroom,
amidst tight security.
Gioachino Pennino, a Sicilian politician and self-confessed Mafioso, is the first of 23 Mafia turncoats or 'pentiti' to appear in the trial.
The trial was moved from Palermo for their safety.
Pennino's evidence provoked a rare appearance from Andreotti, the long term Christian Democrat premier, who has not attended the trial since it opened in September.
SOUNDBITE:(Italian)
Not coming to the court in Rome would have been a bad move on my part, because I always try to come.
SUPERCAPTION: Giulio Andreotti, Former Prime Minister
Pennino told prosecutors a fellow Christian Democrat, Salvo Lima, was the go-between for Andreotti and Mafia bosses.
Prosecutors allege the Mafia helped deliver votes to Andreotti's faction, headed by Lima, in Sicily, in return for political favours.
Lima was killed by suspected Mafia hitmen in 1992.
Andreotti denies the charges.
SOUNDBITE:(Italian)
They (the Mafia) had no ties with the (Democratic) party. They were as corrupted as all the other parties. You cannot say that they (the Mafia) had ties with my party.
SUPERCAPTION: Giulio Andreotti, Former Prime Minister
Andreotti dismissed the evidence saying Pennino had admitted to not knowing him.
SOUNDBITE:(Italian)
Question: What's your impression of Pennino as a person?
Answer: I must go to the trial, I haven't heard his name before this whole thing came up, and I have no willingness or desire to meet him.
SUPERCAPTION: Giulio Andreotti, Former Prime Minister
By the end of two hours evidence Pennino had said nothing that directly linked Andreotti with the Mafia.
Much of his evidence was based on hearsay.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
