Italian Mafia Boss Called "The Architect" Jailed

March 23, 2010 -- Italian police on Monday arrested a well-connected and seemingly respectable architect in Sicily who they believe has taken over the command of the most powerful Mafia clan in the city of Palermo.

Investigators have been on Giuseppe Liga's trail for the past two years since they found references to him in pizzini -- coded messages used by clan members to communicate -- found in their secret hide outs. During the long and intricate investigation, Liga's phones were tapped, his home bugged and he was secretly videoed and taped as he went about his daily business in the city.

Italian TV news yesterday showed police video of what they say is him receiving an envelope stuffed with extortion money. Four mafia clan-members-turned-state-witness have told investigators that Liga took over the Lo Piccolo "family business" after the clan boss Salvatore Lo Piccolo, and his brother Sandro, were arrested in November 2007.

"The architect," as he is being referred to in the press here today, was arrested on suspicion of mafia conspiracy, extortion and setting up front companies. Police believe he was the man who handled revenue from all the rackets controlled by the Lo Piccolo clan based in the San Lorenzo district of Palermo.

"What we are seeing is the 'financialization' of the Mafia." Palermo prosecutor Antonio Ingroia told ANSA news agency.

Liga, 59, is a stout, distinguished, well-known architect in Palermo with a range of local and national political connections. Since the '70's, he has secured various large construction contracts in Palermo including a high-profile residential complex. Gaining political clout, he led the national Catholic association Movement of Christian Workers from 1989 to 1997 and was head of its Sicilian chapter until he was suspended from his position earlier this month after news that he was being investigated for Mafia ties emerged.

In tapped phone calls quoted in "La Repubblica" daily today he often spoke of "finding people to be angels" and "dispensing blessings" in a misleadingly pious way.