Montante ‘defends’ the magistrates: “Never done anything illegal’

(from the correspondent Elvira Terranova) – Wait for the end of the fifth hearing dedicated to his interrogation, Antonello Montante, to take the ‘defense’ of the magistrates who, over the years, have had relations with the former president of Sicilian industrialists considered an icon of the anti-mafia. Montante, accused on appeal for criminal association aimed at corruption, after a sentence of 14 years in prison in the first degree, today responded for more than five hours to the questions of the lawyers of the civil parties. Not to those of the lawyer of the Order of Journalists, the lawyer Salvino Pantuso, who did not do any, despite the fact that in the investigation papers over 90 pages were dedicated to the relations between Montante and some journalists. But the former president of the industrialists, tailored suit, rimless goggles and the inevitable gel on his hair, leaving the bunker room of the Malaspina prison, accompanied by his lawyers, Giuseppe Panepinto and Carlo Taormina, is keen to reiterate that “the magistrates do not they did absolutely nothing illegal with me “,” as well as the police who, in some way, made use of my contribution “. Asked by journalists on how these five interrogation hearings went, asked by the defense, Montante replies: “I am satisfied, I have reconstructed all these facts that have seen me and my colleagues as protagonists over the last 15 years on the legal action in the country, not only in the Nisseno area “. And he adds: “I hope I have also managed to unveil, to remove all that poison that has played a leading role in this proceeding both in the investigation phase, in that of the indictment and in the trial of first instance”. ‘Ho having seen a Court very attentive to my reconstruction of the facts, then Antonello Montante stresses that he “always has faith in the judiciary and in the institutions”, and this is demonstrated by the fact that “I am here to make myself heard”. Then he compliments the Court of Appeal, chaired by Andreina Occhipinti, and says: “I have seen a Court very attentive to my reconstruction of the facts”. “I am satisfied to have reconstructed all that activity that saw me as a protagonist, with these testimonies of mine, supported by papers that my lawyers will produce in the coming days”. Between the lines, Montante makes it known that his lawyers have other papers to present in the trial that should end between October and November next. Who asks him what he thinks of the numerous complaints and complaints announced during his long interrogation, which lasted five hearings , starting with his greatest accuser and his former friend, Alfonso Cicero, Montante says: “We welcome complaints and complaints against me, in Sicily – because it is another opportunity to be able to clarify my position and be able to bring out those cards that we can’t get out in this process “. The sentence is expected between the end of October and the beginning of November. At the end of today’s hearing, President Occhipinti also established the calendar for the next hearings. After the summer break it will resume on 6 September. The next hearing is set for 6 September to continue with the interrogation. Then, on 24 September there will be a discussion with the Attorney General, as well as 25 September. On 1 and 2 October it will be the turn of the civil parties’ discussions. The defendants’ defenses will speak on 8 and 0 October.