1. Vito Ciancimino is said to have alleged a list of demands from Riina as the "boss of bosses".
19 Facts About Vito Ciancimino
1. 2.
Vito Ciancimino was born in Corleone, a village that became notorious for its powerful Mafia gang, the Corleonesi.
3.
Vito Ciancimino's father had lived in America and gained a job as interpreter for occupying US forces at the end of WW2.
4.
Vito Ciancimino used the contacts to build up various business enterprises and Vito was raised in what in Corleone was a relatively prosperous home.
5.
Vito Ciancimino was hired to teach Bernardo Provenzano maths early, and had other contacts with fellow townsmen who were to become Mafia bosses in later life.
6.
Vito Ciancimino studied engineering at University of Palermo but did not complete his degree.
7.
In 1950 Vito Ciancimino obtained concessions for all railway transport inside Palermo.
8.
Vito Ciancimino became a rich man, moved house and changed his style of life.
9.
In 1959, when a fellow Christian Democrat, Salvo Lima, became mayor of Palermo, Vito Ciancimino became assessor for public works and building permits.
10.
Vito Ciancimino, described by the Mafia turncoat Tommaso Buscetta as "a pushy Corleonese embezzler", made a vast fortune in bribes.
11.
Vito Ciancimino was arrested in 1984 after the testimony of Mafia pentito Tommaso Buscetta.
12.
Vito Ciancimino was charged with improperly awarding $400m worth of public works contracts, mafia conspiracy, fraud and embezzlement.
13.
In 1992, following the Mafia murders of Salvo Lima and the Antimafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, Vito Ciancimino, was approached by Carabinieri Colonel Mario Mori and had several secret meetings.
14.
Allegedly, Vito Ciancimino acted as go between, and Bernardo Provenzano, passed on a list of Riina's demands for an end to the bombings.
15.
Vito Ciancimino claimed Carabinieri tricked him before Riina's capture by suggesting he ask for the return of his passport, taken from him as a precautionary measure, knowing the request would lead to judges ordering his imprisonment as a flight risk.
16.
Vito Ciancimino was allowed to go shopping and on chauffeur-driven rides into the Alban Hills.
17.
Vito Ciancimino died of a heart attack at the age of 78, on 19 November 2002.
18.
Vito Ciancimino was Mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano's creature, he protected and promoted him to protect his own interests.
19.
The pentito Gioacchino Pennino revealed that Provenzano had guided and advised Vito Ciancimino, launched and directed his political career, and personally confronted anyone who was disloyal.