By IANS/AKI,
Rome : An Italian mafia leader, currently in prison, wants a senior cardinal to mediate for his release on compassionate grounds, officials have said.
Toto Riina, 79, who has heart problems, wants Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, the Archbishop of Milan, to help him get released from prison on compassionate grounds, officials have said, according to Corriere della Sera daily.
He is detained at the high-security Opera prison in Milan after being convicted of multiple murder and mafia membership, and now wants the prison chaplain to mediate with Tettamanzi, the report said.
Riina made the request to the prison chaplain earlier this month and the prison has informed the national anti-mafia directorate, even though Riina’s lawyer said he had not been informed.
“From what I gather it’s a wholly personal initiative,” Luca Cianferoni, Riina’s lawyer, said.
The lawyer said Riina’s health was “deteriorating” and called for authorities to lift the severe restrictions which limit his contact with the outside world amid fears he would continue to issue orders to the mafia from jail.
Since 2003, Riina has undergone heart surgery, suffered a heart attack and been hospitalised several times.
He has been detained in several high-security jails around Italy for the past 17 years, following his arrest in January 1993 after almost 25 years on the run.