Wanted mafia boss arrested in Thailand

ROME, March 31, 2012 (AFP) - Thai police have arrested a wanted Italian mafia boss after he flew to Bangkok airport, Italian media said Saturday.

Vito Roberto Palazzolo, from Terrasini near the Sicilian capital Palermo and considered to be a leading member of the Cosa Nostra Sicilian mafia for whom he laundered money, was arrested on Friday.

He was sentenced in absentia by an Italian court in 2009 to nine years in jail for association with the mafia and had been living in South Africa under the name Robert von Palace Kolbatschenko.

South African authorities had declined to extradite the 64-year-old.

Investigators tracked him down after monitoring his Facebook profile and that of his friends and family.

Italian media reported that Thailand had agreed to his extradition to Italy but that his lawyers said he was a South African national, even though he had assumed it under another identity.

When he was first sentenced in 2006, public prosecutors in Palermo said Palazzolo was "one of the most important Cosa Nostra figures in 20 years, notably because of his key role between business and the mafia".

In South Africa he is seen as a major business leader with interests in mineral water, security and ostrich farming.

Investigators believe he is also the owner of a hunting ground popular with the rich and famous, and an investor in a company in Angola that specialising in precious stones.

He was also said to be the owner of a diamond cutting business.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-03-31

The Thai police arresting a mafia boss. That'll confuse them!

The Thai police arresting a mafia boss. That'll confuse them!

They don't like competition.

Maybe they just wanted him in their midst, like it belongs a true family..

I imagine the BiB will let him go once he has paid over 200 Baht !

The Thai police arresting a mafia boss. That'll confuse them!

Probably just brought in for questioning. I'm sure he has lots of useful advice

Wanted mafia boss arrested in Thailand

It's a shame the reciprocal didn't happen in Italy!

-mel.

I agree on most of your points.

Italian mafia boss comes to Thailand for rest.

I could see him telling the officer in chathe, "I make you an offer you cannot refuse. I only authors once."

Too bad they never seem to be able to do this with the mafia bosses that actually LIVE in Thailand.

lets see, how much bail would be and imagine an extra large envelope for the cops and judge

Good for him he has been arrested in a corruption sensitive country. Things will work out for him

He sounds qualified enough to get appointed as a Govt advisor.

What ever happen to the Russian musician

What ever happen to the Russian musician

He was never in the mafia, so why do you ask?

South African authorities had declined to extradite him.

Anyone knows why?

South African authorities had declined to extradite him.

Anyone knows why?

Good question

The mafia capo will likely be "detained" and placed in a cell near Rakesh Saxena. Saxena will subsequently be found dead from unknown causes. This is called Thai outsourcing. How else would the Thais have figured out the true identity of Robert von Palace Kolbatschenko? they outsourced the Saxena job to the mafia and the mafia gave instructions that their man would be arriving in Bangkok.

Thailand has no extradition treaty with Italy, has it? I wonder why they agreed

Sounds to me like they will be getting some expert advise!!

Sicilian mafia bosses using facebook!

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I think this will be more of an educational experience for the BIB!

South African authorities had declined to extradite him.

Anyone knows why?

Waiting for an extra-large envelope.

If he was going to offer a bribe to be set free it would already have happened. He's arrested and so going back to Italy. No amount of money will get him out of this. Just like that Russian guy, some arrests are too high-profile to have the people walk free.

Edited April 1, 201214 yr by w11guy

South African authorities had declined to extradite him.

Anyone knows why?

Good question

Said above that he was a SA national. That might be the first clue.

Maybe the BIB set him free after he agrees to give free private coaching?

lets see, how much bail would be and imagine an extra large envelope for the cops and judge

He's not charged with anything in Thailand.

"Investigators tracked him down after monitoring his Facebook profile and that of his friends and family" .

Someone wanted by inter pol is dumb enough to be on facebook! That's amazing!

I agree this is likely too high-profile for him to buy his way out, and most likely international agents were on the ground monitoring the initial approach and arrest from the beginning, because boy this guy should have been able to buy his way out if anyone can.

I imagine it also cost the Italians a bit to ensure cooperation, but not that much.

I doubt this guy would have been "competing" with the local mafias/BiB, they're usually smart enough to suss out the local power structures and cooperate. But someone this serious would have been a real wild card for the locals, probably a bit too nervous-making for them to be willing to deal with.

So good job to all concerned, the world is a little better off. . .

South African authorities had declined to extradite him.

Anyone knows why?

some country 's does not extradite their subjects........'as he COULD (!) be a south African ....

... no better country in which to be than Thailand, if you are a crook ... welcomed arms!