Crime boss Sparandeo, on the run, arrested by police

(ANSA) – Naples, October 10 – Crime boss Corrado Sparandeo, who was on the run, was arrested on Thursday afternoon in the Southern Italian city of Benevento after police found him at his mother’s house in via Port’ Arsa hidden inside a wardrobe in a bedroom.

Sparandeo, 55, had been on the run after failing to return to jail after having received a temporary permit from judges on September 26. The man, whose nickname is “Pinocchio” and is alleged to head the eponymous criminal organization, has a criminal record for criminal association, extortion, drugs trafficking, and homicide amongst other things. It is not the first time he has escaped whilst serving a sentence.

In May he was arrested in the Iannassi di San Nicola Manfredi neighbourhood of Benevento whilst organizing his escape, whilst in August 2012 he was taken into custody after being caught holidaying with his partner in Amalfi.

Sparandeo has now been sent to the Benevento jail.