An Italian magistrate was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of corruption and associating with elements from the country's wealthiest and most powerful mafia group.
Giuseppe Vincenzo Giglio, magistrate at the Reggio Calabria tribunal, who also headed a unit against organised crime, helped a member of the Lampada crime clan and facilitated activities of the 'Ndrangheta organised crime network, investigators said.
The 'Ndrangheta network has its roots in the southern Calabria region where Reggio Calabria is the urban centre.
Part of the magistrate's job was to order the seizure of assets belonging to convicted members of the mafia.
The mafia network invests billions of euros in businesses and real estate and its activities have also been traced to North and South America, Australia, as well as other European countries.