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There is a lack of liquidity, billing decreases and if the State contributions are delayed, the owners accept the illegal ones of the mafias and organized crime. Usury has found its fertile ground in the coronavirus and is affecting especially small and medium-sized companies in the tourism sector, from restaurants to hotels. The data shows it: it increases where other generic crimes, in times of pandemic, decrease. A new fund of 4 million and 400 thousand euros reserved by the Lazio Region aims to counteract this.
“In the first months of the year, in front of a 26% drop in crimes, crimes related to usury increased almost 10%” explains President Nicola Zingaretti, today at a press conference with Gianpiero Cioffredi, president of the Lazio Region Security and Legality Observatory and Rodolfo Lena, president of the Regional Council’s Anti-Mafia commission. “It is a silent process, linked to the desperation of the people. We will be a civil party in any process initiated by the victims of usury. It is a battle that must be fought at the front.”. But let’s see in detail how the fund will be distributed.
Of the total made available by the Region, 900 thousand euros will go to the victims of usury and individuals over-indebted for reasons related to the pandemic with subsidies of up to 5,000 euros. One million 600 thousand euros for bank loans of up to 50 thousand euros. And 570 thousand euros for victims of usury with subsidies of up to 20 thousand euros as compensation for the damages suffered. Subsequently, thirty thousand euros will go to psychological support for groups or individual therapies, 65 thousand euros to legal, accounting or access to credit services for companies. And finally, 450 thousand euros for the support to the organizations and associations dedicated to the fight and assistance to the victims regularly registered in the regional registry and in the registry of the Prefecture.
How to access compensation
In order to obtain compensation, the usury victim must contact the anti-usury associations and foundations mentioned above. The associations, having received the request of the victim, proceed to transmit the project and the prospect of use of the sums to be paid to the competent regional structure. In case of acceptance of the request, the relative amount is assigned to the association / foundation that is in charge of its use in favor of the beneficiary.
“The regional network of anti-usury associations and foundations in recent months has seen a 50% increase in ratings” explains Cioffredi, from the Security and Legality Observatory. “Lazio is the Italian region that has seen the most usury increase with an increase, between March and July, in the number of usurers arrested, which were 63 compared to 42 the previous year. This is a sample of the powerful activity of the police forces. Police and the judiciary “.
“Usury has become a fundamental element of the criminal strategy that shows us an ongoing process of a gigantic reinvestment of the money of the mafia in the Roman production system. We make a heartfelt appeal to the victims to free themselves from the dramatic claws of usury and denounce its torturers – Cioffredi concludes – You will find the Region and all the State Bodies at your side ”.
Lazio Region civil party
In addition to financial aid, the Lazio Region will also be a civil party in any process involving a victim of loan sharks. President Zingaretti announced: “A fragile legal economy carries the risk that the illegal one will strengthen. We do not want to leave families, businessmen, owners of bars and restaurants alone. We want to show that the State also acts against loneliness ”.
