Messina Denaro was never 'sole' leader of Sicilian Mafia - prosecutor

News conference following the arrest of mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, in Palermo
Deputy Prosecutor Paolo Guido, prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia and Commander of the ROS Pasquale Angelosanto attend a news conference, following the arrest of Italy's most wanted mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro, in Palermo, Italy, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello

PALERMO, Italy, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Matteo Messina Denaro, the Italian mobster arrested after 30 years on the run, was "never" the sole leader of the Sicilian Mafia, the chief prosecutor of Palermo Maurizio de Lucia said on Monday.

De Lucia told reporters that Messina Denaro had hidden out in many parts of Italy over the past three decades, most recently in Sicily.

Speaking at the same news conference, General Pasquale Angelosanto of the ROS special force unit of the Carabinieri police, added that Messina Denaro was wearing a watch worth 35,000 euros ($37,880) when officers detained him. ($1 = 0.9240 euros)

Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Crispian Balmer

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