Valeria Grasso, a justice witness in Palermo, is facing accusations from the local prosecutor’s office regarding the illegal occupation of a confiscated property known as the “anti-racket gym.” The Sicilian businesswoman, who gained notoriety in the 2000s for standing up against extortion by the Madonia clan, is now under investigation for allegedly invading a building on Via Dominici.
Grasso has vehemently denied the accusations, stating that she had been occupying the premises legally and had even reported criminal activities taking place inside the property. As president of the Legalità e Libertà association, Grasso claims to have presented a project for the gym in 2013, which was approved and inaugurated in 2014 with the presence of authorities, magistrates, and local officials.
Despite her protests of innocence, Grasso’s property has been seized, and she is now facing a legal battle to revoke the seizure. Her lawyer, Salvatore Asole, has raised concerns about the timing of the eviction notice, which dates back to 2014 but was only recently brought to her attention.
The case has garnered attention beyond Sicily, with the issue of Grasso’s alleged illegal occupation now reaching Parliament. Grasso, who has received threats in the past, will only have a police escort when in Sicily after her appeal for one in Lazio was rejected by the TAR.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Grasso remains determined to prove her innocence and continues to advocate for justice and the fight against organized crime.