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| - A gangster at the heart of a giant corruption scandal in Rome's City Hall was freed from prison Tuesday after a court said he had served the maximum time as the charge of mafia association was dropped. The kingpin in the case, dubbed "Mafia Capital", was right-wing extremist Massimo Carminati, who was given 20 years in jail in 2017 for conspiracy to commit corruption and other crimes. The network, which involved 45 individuals besides Carminati, relied on extortion, fraud and theft to divert millions of euros destined for public services. The 62-year-old Carminati, who lost an eye in a 1981 gunfight with police, has served five years and seven months. The original charge of mafia association, however, was struck down by a higher court in October 2019, under Italy's slow-moving, complex judicial system. In recalculating the time Carminati should have served under those lesser charges, the so-called "Court of Liberty" said Carminati -- who was incarcerated in 2014 -- had already served the maximum time given his pre-trial detention. Criminal proceedings in Italy take place in stages and sentences are only enforceable and final once all stages of judgement are over. Since Carminati is appealing his original sentence, he is only subject to his pre-trial detention period, which he has served, the court found. His release on Tuesday does not preclude him from being sent back to prison in future after a definitive ruling and sentence. The "Mafia Capital" scandal culminated in a 20-month trial in the capital's Rebibbia high-security prison. ams/ach/wai
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