Don on the Don freed from behind bars in Italy
A former Scots restaurateur unmasked as a member of the Mafia has been released from prison – but still faces trial on firearms charges. Aberdeen businessman Antonio La Torre – dubbed “The Don on the Don” – was being held on remand in an Italian jail following a series of police raids.
Italian police swooped on La Torre and his brother Augusto earlier this year, after they uncovered evidence of the pair threatening to kill two public prosecutors. Antonio was being investigated for the illegal possession of firearms, attempted extortion, attempted robbery and being involved in the Mafia. He denied any involvement.
But Carabinieri Captain Luca Iannoti this week confirmed that most of charges against Antonio had been dropped, with only the alleged firearms offences still to be prosecuted.
Antonio has been released from Parma prison, where he was being held.
Captain Iannoti said: “He is not able to return to Scotland because he has to report to a police station every day.”
Antonio must report to police in Mondragone, a seaside town just outside Naples.
Iannoti said that even though some charges had been dropped, the arrests had stopped a resurgence of the La Torre crime clan.