Mafia: Giletti, 'In photo shown by Baiardo I recognised young Berlusconi'
Journalist testifies in Florence trial: 'He wanted to gain my trust'
Giletti's testimony in the Florence trial
According to ANSA Cronaca, journalist Massimo Giletti gave evidence in the trial against Salvatore Baiardo, a former ice-cream seller from Omegna (Novara) with ties to the Graviano brothers, which is taking place in Florence.
"Salvatore Baiardo took a faded photograph out of his jacket: I recognised a young Silvio Berlusconi in a blue jumper and General Francesco Delfino," Giletti stated in court. "They were sitting at a small table in a bar in a piazza overlooking Lake Orta, together with a young unknown man. Baiardo revealed to me that he was Giuseppe Graviano."
Baiardo is charged with personal harbouring with the aggravating factor of mafia facilitation and aggravated defamation against Giletti and the former mayor of Cerasa, Giancarlo Ricca. Defended by lawyers Roberto Ventrella and Luca Bellezza, he participated in the hearing remotely.
The meeting in Castano and the photo
Giletti reconstructed how he approached Baiardo: he sought him out to obtain information on the Graviano brothers after watching a Report episode. Baiardo then agreed to take part in a programme on La7, where he discussed the topic of Sicilian mafia families and the management of the Graviano brothers' fugitive status near Lake Orta.
In July 2022, the journalist explained, Baiardo contacted him by telephone to show him something sensitive, inviting him to meet him in Castano, near Milan. The meeting took place in a bar. "Baiardo made a preamble: 'What I'm about to tell you will spread around the world, you'll understand by September'," Giletti reported. "I sensed that he was acting this way because he wanted to be considered credible about a future story."
By showing the photo, according to the journalist, Baiardo aimed to gain his professional trust in view of a subsequent revelation: that Matteo Messina Denaro would be captured in January. "He explained to me that the photograph was not in his possession, except at that moment. He was a storyteller and skilled operator," Giletti added. "I have always thought that Baiardo was the product of an underground agreement."
The photo that was not displayed and the end of the programme
Giletti also explained that he did not show the photo to Urbano Cairo for reasons of propriety: he knew that Cairo had worked at length with Silvio Berlusconi and that the two had a close relationship.
The journalist finally recalled the fate of his programme Non è l'arena, on La7: despite achieving ratings above 6%, it was suspended in April 2023 before the planned end date in July. "My contract was coming to an end, I had received a renewal proposal for another two years. Then I received an e-mail announcing the termination of the employment relationship."
Source: ANSA Cronaca