Fixer Lavitola exits Italy jail cell after 4 years
VALTER LAVITOLA, the Italian “fixer” who once lived the high life in Panama and was the confident of the ruling clique during the Ricardo Martinelli era, has been released to house arrest after more than four years in prison, three of them in a jail cell in Secondigliano, Naples.
Prison guards moved Lavitola to his apartment in Rome, Italy at 1 p.m. local time on Thursday March 17. But his freedom could be short term as he is still on trial for allegedly trying to divert $25 million in bribes to high ranking government members in Panama.
His release was ordered this week based on a petition filed by his lawyer, Sergio Cola.
He is prohibited from receiving foreign visitors or communicating with anyone except his family and his lawyer.
Lavitola had been convicted on five charges and has been ordered to serve 10 years in prison, but defense attorneys reached an agreement with the Court of Rome which sentenced him to 3 years and 8 months in prison for fraud and embezzlement of public funds linked to Avanti, the newspaper that he ran.
His other sentences relate to corruption investigations into contracts with the Panamanian government under former President Ricardo Martinelli.
He now faces a hearing in Rome on April 21 alongside a former Finmeccanica president for allegedly trying to divert up to $25 million in bribes in a contract for helicopters and radars awarded to that company by the Panama. Administration.
