Seized mafia villa to become kindergarten

CATANZARO, Italy, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Police in Catanzaro, Italy, said a luxury property seized from a Mafia leader is going to be converted into a kindergarten.

Catanzaro police Chief Romolo Panico said Friday the property taken from a don in the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta crime organization would go to benefit children, ANSA reported Friday.

"We're going to see a kindergarten here," Panico said. "It'll be another blow against the 'Ndrangheta, as civil society battles the phenomenon."

The villa was confiscated from the 'Ndrangheta, which holds a tight control over many parts of the region, in 2002 but was only recently turned over to the government.

"I don't know why it takes so long," Panico said. "Five years of moving through the various judicial stages is too much. We should be aiming for a definitive verdict at the first hearing."