Reputed mobster had Mafia commandments

Published: Nov. 8, 2007 at 5:01 PM

PALERMO, Italy, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- An alleged list of rules for members of La Cosa Nostra -- a Mafia Ten Commandments -- was found this week during the arrest of a reputed Italian mob kingpin.

Investigators also found an alleged copy of the La Cosa Nostra initiation oath, Ansa, the Italian news agency, reported. Both papers were in the briefcase of Salvatore Lo Piccolo, officials said.

It appears that Lo Piccolo was concerned that younger members of the organization failed to show proper discipline and respect, the report said.

The oath was already known: "I swear to be faithful to Cosa Nostra. If I should betray it my flesh must burn, just as this image burns." Initiates supposedly burn a holy card with the image of a saint.

The "Rights and Duties" list includes: 1. Introductions must be made by "another of our friends;" 2. "Never look at the wives of friends;" 3. "Never be seen with cops;" 4. "Don't go to pubs and clubs;" 5. "Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty;" 6. "Appointments must absolutely be respected;" 7. "Wives must be treated with respect;" 8. Members must be truthful with each other; 9. Stealing from other members is banned; and 10. Relatives of police officers or police informers and people of bad moral character are banned from membership.

© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Artist documents decade of his life (5 min)
Woods's wife allegedly assaulted him (8 min)
UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (29 min)
Philly to get major new solar panel plant
Police called to Black Friday mall brawls
Heidi Kay Werstler: Claim your bottle
'Undie' thieves target Victoria's Secret
fark
In the never-ending quest by the government to encourage everyone buy new stuff, comes "Cash for...
It was Mrs. Woods, in the driveway, with the golf club
Can you be blamed for sleepwalking crimes? It's not news, it's fearmongeri...er...ABC News
They took away radio traffic reporters' airplanes, and now they're taking away their radio too
The majority of working mothers say they would prefer to work part-time. Only 21 percent of working...
The world's tallest model stands at 7 feet tall. With 'you'd hit it if you were tall enough' pics...