One of two suspects being probed by
the State Attorney's Office in Milan over an alleged gang that
targeted high-profile Italian business owners to pay bogus
ransoms for purportedly kidnapped journalists in the Middle East
using the AI-generated fake voice of Defence Minister Guido
Crosetto to lend credence to their scam has a criminal record
for serious offences that could be related to drug trafficking,
investigative sources said on Friday.
The two suspects had bank accounts in the Netherlands where
investigators found nearly million euros paid to the scammers
by Milan oilman and ex Inter president Massimo Moratti, one of
the victims.
Moratti had also been allegedly asked to pay another million
euros.
Both suspects are Dutch nationals, according to investigative
sources.
The second man under investigation also has a criminal record
for less serious offenses, they said.
The suspects investigated by Carabinieri police as part of a
probe coordinated by State attorney Giovanni Tarzia and Milan
chief prosecutor Marcello Viola are aged 50 and 60.
They are being investigated on charges of criminal association
aimed at aggravated fraud and fraudulent identity.
Investigators believe the pair were possibly acting on behalf of
others who masterminded the scam.
The victims allegedly include high profile business owners such
as the Caprotti family, owners of the Esselunga supermarket
chain, the Aleotti family, owners of the Minervini
pharmaceuticals group, firearms manufacturing dynasty Beretta,
fashion legend Giorgio Armani, Prada CEO Maurizio Bertelli,
prominent businessman Marco Tronchetti Provera and Tod's
Chairman and CEO Diego Della Valle, among others.
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