Milan local police commissaria Ilenja Sabato and four officers were arrested following an internal investigation into an allegedly staged drug arrest, document falsification, and theft.
Suspect’s Claims Spark Corruption Inquiry
According to Corriere della Sera, the suspect stated that the cash—which he received from a purported client shortly before his arrest in exchange for half a kilogram of hashish—vanished, while the drugs subsequently reappeared inside his vehicle.
The suspect’s version contradicted official police logs, prompting an inquiry led by prosecutor Giovanni Tarzia. Local police colleagues initiated a rapid internal investigation alongside the defense counsel of the suspect, culminating in the arrests.
Commissioner and Four Officers Slapped with Serious Charges
According to Corriere della Sera, the gip Elio Sparacino wrote that the arrests of 43-year-old commissaria Ilenja Sabato and officers Denni Dileo, 27, Mattia Rignanese, 28, Rosario Piscopo, 35, and 54-year-old Vincenzo Compagnone. The suspects face charges including illegal arrest, embezzlement, and ideological falsehood committed by a public official.
Surveillance Footage Exposes False Police Logs
Investigators determined that the operation originated from a confidential tip indicating the suspect was dealing drugs between Milan and Corsico. However, subsequent reviews of video surveillance footage revealed discrepancies in the official police report.
Surveillance footage showed the arrest occurred in a parking lot on viale Liberazione in Corsico rather than at a gas station on via Ludovico il Moro in Milan, as stated in the logs. Footage also contradicted claims that the suspect attempted to flee and assaulted officers, showing instead that he was approached by an undercover officer and immediately handcuffed.
A Calculated Set-Up Targeting Prior Offenses
Judge Sparacino stated that the operation involved a set-up designed to target an individual with prior drug offenses. The buyer who met the suspect arrived in an unmarked vehicle, paid for the transaction, and departed without interference.
According to Corriere della Sera, this individual was neither an undercover police officer nor an informant, but rather the sister of another individual previously searched by the unit.
Prison Hearings Loom as Leadership Defends Force
The five detained officers are scheduled to appear before a judge at San Vittore Prison. Milan local police commander Gianluca Mirabelli addressed the arrests by defending the integrity of the department’s remaining workforce, emphasizing that the actions of a few individuals do not reflect the broader agency.
Keep reading