Graciela retracts before a notary: four pages of backtracking in the Minetti case
The key witness in the Minetti case has retracted her statements in a four-page notarised deed, after unsuccessfully requesting to be heard by Milan magistrates.
Graciela's notarised retraction: the prosecution's silence and the about-turn
Graciela has retracted. She did so with a four-page document signed before a notary, in which she contradicts what she had told Il Fatto Quotidiano in more than an hour and a half of recording and in 766 messages, including photographs and WhatsApp screenshots with other people. As reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca, the decision came after the witness had unsuccessfully requested to be heard by Italian magistrates and had learned from press agencies that the Milan general prosecutor's office did not intend to do so.
News of the formal deed reached the Milan general prosecutor's office with the investigation already concluded: the statements were transmitted between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning from Uruguay to the magistrates and then forwarded to the Quirinal.
What the sworn statement says
According to reconstructions by Repubblica, Il Corriere della Sera and Domani, in the sworn statement Graciela claims to know nothing of what was happening at the estate. The essence of the deposition, cited by Repubblica, is as follows: "I have never seen that signora Minetti was involved in an alleged operation intended to hire prostitutes. During the period in which I worked at the residence 'Gin tonic' I have never seen that signora Minetti was involved in an alleged operation to find, attract, hire or encourage the involvement of prostitutes within the residence."
Graciela further claims that she did not authorise the publication of her name and that the meaning of her words would have been distorted. In fact, the witness had authorised the interview and the disclosure of her name. On 11 May, when the newspaper had already gone to press, she had initially requested only minor modifications and had again given approval to write that "Nicole had not changed her life". Only subsequently had she appeared frightened, asking to focus on the alleged sexual harassment by Cipriani.
Chronology of contacts
On 12 May Il Corriere della Sera had published an account of a meeting with the witness, under the headline "Graciela's fortress", in which the woman declared: "In there I saw everything, I am afraid and I live in hiding". To the same newspaper on Via Solferino she had added: "I am ready to testify in support of the Milan investigation into the pardon."
On 13 May Graciela had been interviewed by the television programme Sin Piedad, reiterating her willingness to be heard. The following day, 14 May, Ansa had run with the headline: "No need to hear the witness on Minetti, there is no corroboration of her words". From that moment, Graciela stopped responding to messages.
On 29 May, according to Il Corriere della Sera, she presented herself to a notary in Uruguay releasing the sworn statement, which was then sent to Italy. The document arrived when the investigation was now considered closed and President Mattarella had communicated that he did not wish to change his mind regarding the pardon.
What happened between 14 and 29 May
As to what happened in Uruguay during those fifteen days and the real reason for the retraction, at this moment only speculation is possible. Graciela lives in a locked-down situation and does not respond to either messages or telephone calls. Il Fatto Quotidiano has announced that it will soon publish the textual content of the conversations it had with her.
Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca