A new hearing has been held in the trial for the alleged extortion against the former director of Caritas in Foggia. The defendants, LM and AD, are accused of extorting approximately 15 thousand euros from the priest to keep quiet about two videos of a sexual nature. The videos allegedly portray the priest in intimate situations with one of the two accused people. During today’s hearing, at the Foggia court, the former bishop of the Diocese of Foggia-Bovino, Vincenzo Pelvi, and the comedian Amedeo Grieco, of the duo Pio and Amedeo, were heard.
Pelvi said he summoned the priest because of the serious rumours about his conduct.and that the parish priest had admitted his homosexual practices. The monsignor did not recall whether the videos were discussed on that occasion, but reported receiving an anonymous letter containing a diskette at the Archbishop’s officewhich one of the collaborators viewed, then informed him of the content. After the meeting with the bishop, the priest was removed from his position as head of the diocesan Caritas. Pelvi confirmed that rumors about the existence of the videos were widespread and that he had never met the two defendants, nor that the parish priest had revealed to him the names of the people involved.
Amedeo Grieco, however, confirmed that he had received messages from LM in December 2017, in which the defendant asked to discuss a “delicate” matter. The two met in Piazza San Francesco in Foggia, where LM asked Grieco to publish the videos on ‘Le Iene’, a popular program on Italia Uno. Grieco put him in touch with journalist Pablo Trincia, but later stopped following the story. The comedian added that he had seen some clips of the film and that LM never mentioned wanting to gain financial advantage from the matter.
Lawyer Michele Sodrio, LM’s legal representative, has asked the court to hear one last witness for the defensea current Caritas employee, and journalist Pablo Trincia. The latter request, which was favorably accepted by prosecutor Stella, will be decided at the next hearing in October. The judge ordered the forced escort of the Caritas employee, who is absent today.
L’Immediato.net reports it
