Lavitola to remain in jail over bomb attack on Ranucci's home

Lavitola to remain in jail over bomb attack on Ranucci's home

(ANSA) - ROME, 10 SET - A Rome court on Thursday ruled that businessman, ex journalist and restaurateur Valter Lavitola should remain in jail after admitting to organizing a bomb attack on the home of his friend, Rai investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci, last October. The court also upheld the aggravating factor of the use of 'mafia methods' in the charges. Prosecutors have said the attack was meant by Lavitola to boost his friend's standing in view of a possible entry into politics, from which Lavitola also hoped to benefit. Lavitola has denied this, saying the aim was to get Ranucci's security detail boosted. Ranucci presented Report, a hard-hitting exposè programme, and already had a security detail before the bombing after coming under threats. Lavitola allegedly commissioned a gang to stage the attack via a Cameroonian go-between. He said he only wanted the gang to let off a few rounds at the residence at Pomezia south of Rome, and not plant a bomb that destroyed Ranucci's and his daughter's cars and could have killed her. Lavitola has been at the centre of many top political and business corruption stories over the years. These include: a Monte Carlo house whose purchase sank former Silvio Berlusconi protegé Gianfranco Fini's political career; the alleged buying and selling of Senators by Berlusconi to bring down a centre-left government led by ex European Commission president Romano Prodi; the attempted extortion of Berlusconi over a ring of escorts at his 'elegant dinners'; kickbacks for contracts in Panama; and scams involving publishing funds. State broadcaster Rai has replaced Ranucci at the helm of Report after government politicians and conservative journalists called for him to be suspended over his allegedly murky friendship with Lavitola. Ranucci, 65, has said he is taking legal action to get his old job back and the other journalists working on Report have threatened to quit if his removal is confirmed. Prosecutors have said they do not suspect Ranucci of involvement in Lavitola's plan. (ANSA). Read article...