Mob boss: TV drama has damaged my image

AS A convicted mafia boss who is serving a life term in jail for murder, extortion and drug trafficking, it might seem that Michele Zagaria’s reputation could hardly sink any lower.

But the 59-year-old mobster, who was winkled out of a secret bunker near Naples after 16 years on the run, is now claiming that his image has been besmirched by a television drama about his life and has demanded €100,000 (£88,400) in compensation. Lawyers for the mafia godfather, who is behind bars in a high-security prison in Milan, have made a formal complaint and a tribunal hearing has been fixed.

The convicted killer has taken exception to the series, called Undercover – the capture of Zagaria, which has begun showing on RAI, Italy’s state broadcaster. “Having seen the first episode, we asked RAI to suspend the series. They should not be allowed to broadcast images that are contrary to the truth,” said Barbara Lettieri, his lawyer. The broadcaster refused to pull the drama and so Zagaria has decided to take the case to court, with a hearing due to be held in Rome on Nov 28.

The convicted mobster alleges that the series is full of inventions and exaggeration. But what really incenses him is the fact that his character is sexually attracted to the daughter of the family who hid him for so many years. “This is something that has deeply offended and appalled our client,” his lawyer said.

Zagaria was the leader of the notorious Casalesi clan of the Naples-based Camorra mafia.