The Italian mafia must be prevented from playing roles in the reconstruction efforts of Central Italy following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that killed 290 people, an anti-mafia prosecutor said.
Lawyer Franco Roberti issued the warning as various humanitarian programs, through the Italian government, positioned themselves to immediately rebuild the badly hit towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto.
The Italian daily La Repubblica quoted Roberti in describing mafia-initiated projects as "sub-standard" while blaming the organization for various structural mishaps in the country.
He said the Italian mafia has infiltrated the construction industry since the 1980s after the Irpinia earthquake that killed more than 2,400 people.
He urged the government to learn from the past, citing that the notorious crime syndicate could be blamed for the numbers of structure the collapse when the strong quake jolted the Central Italian region.
"Behind those thousands of dead was reckless building and clan affairs," Roberti said as quoted by CNN.
"Post-earthquake reconstruction is historically a delicious morsel for criminal groups and business interests," he warned.
