16 Apr, 2018 13:03

‘Mafia didn’t die, it adapted’: Journalist in hiding talks to RT (EXCLUSIVE)

Prominent Sicilian journalist Paolo Borrometi has faced repeated death threats since 2013. In the wake of the leaking of recordings of mafia bosses discussing yet another plan to murder him, RT caught up with the defiant reporter.

Borrometi, editor of the anti-mafia site La Spia, says he has been living a nightmare for the past few years. In April 2014 Borrometi was attacked by a group of men.

‘Cosa Nostra still here’: Mafia don assassinated while biking in Sicily

"First, I received warnings, then letters containing bullets and then anonymous phone calls,” says Borrometi. “Then, one day, I was attacked, I was assaulted by two hooded men. Since then I've had an injured shoulder. I've now been living under the protection of the carabinieri for four years."

Borrometi, 35, says at least five mafia clans want him dead, but seems unfazed by attempts at intimidation. "I've launched 40 criminal cases against almost 30 mafia bosses. These mafia bosses tried to kill me anyway. I managed to save myself from an attack thanks to the skill of carabinieri,” he tells RT in an exclusive interview.

A recently-leaked recording revealed plans by Syracusan mafia bosses from Sicily to "murder the inconvenient journalist."

The reporter, who has been investigating the clans' illegal activities, says the notorious Italian mafia has fought back from the brink because society became complacent about the fight against it and believed Cosa Nostra had lost its power.

"We thought the mafia was defeated,” says Borrometi. “We thought this because the bombings are over, because arrests were made. We did not understand that the mafia was radically changing. It infiltrated the state and public bodies. Some think that the mafia is just an Italian problem, but unfortunately that's not true. The mafia has spread from Italy to Europe and the world.”

Borrometi believes there hasn’t been enough coverage of the problem in recent years. "Many journalists do not publish names or photos of mafia bosses,” he says. “Many of my colleagues do not do any investigative journalism. I publish names and surnames, I publish photos, and above all I try to follow their business schemes, their money. This is a business with billions, not millions. We are talking about billions of euros…"

Messages of support for Borrometi have been gaining momentum across social media with many hailing his bravery in the face of violence and threats.

#Borrometi Solidarietà al giornalista siciliano @paoloborrometi vittima di gravi minacce da parte della criminalità mafiosa. La @CislNazionale è al fianco di tutti i giornalisti che con il loro lavoro libero di inchiesta si battono per la legalità contro ogni sopruso
— Annamaria Furlan (@FurlanAnnamaria) 10 апреля 2018 г.

"Solidarity with the Sicilian journalist @paoloborrometi, victim of serious threats from the mafia. The @CislNazionale [an Italian trade union association] is at the side of all journalists who, with their independent investigations, fight for the law against any abuse."

Grazie a @paoloborrometi abbiamo saputo di più di come la mafia agisca.Per questo il giornalista è stato vittima di nuove minacce di stampo mafioso. Per questo merita la nostra solidarietà!
— Nicola Morra (@NicolaMorra63) 10 апреля 2018 г.

"Thanks to @paoloborrometi we learned more about how the mafia acts. This is why the journalist became the victim of new mafia threats. This is why he deserves our solidarity!"