Asset seizure in the Almese sect investigation
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The urgent preventive seizure of about €700,000 in assets is a financial measure ordered in early November 2026 by the Turin public prosecutor's office (Procura), led by prosecutor Giovanni Bombardieri, as part of the investigation into the so-called Almese sect, in the lower Susa Valley. The decree targets the main suspect, Bruno Antonio Malatesta, held in custody since 1 October 2026 and known as master Śivakṣatriya Śivānanda, along with two other suspects out of four people involved in the investigation. The financial inquiries were carried out by the Carabinieri's Investigative Unit (Nucleo Investigativo) of Turin. [1][2][3]
Assets covered by the measure
The decree covers bank accounts, prepaid cards and a pension fund held directly by Malatesta. Dozens of plots of land and buildings in the municipalities of La Cassa, Viù and Givoletto, in the Province of Turin, registered to an agricultural company linked to two close associates of the suspect, were also seized. The measure also hit property and financial assets of the foundation that ran the residential community, with assets in Givoletto, Perlo (in the Province of Cuneo), Almese and San Gregorio di Catania (Province of Catania). Among the seized properties is a building in Perlo intended as a shelter for women victims of violence. Jewellery, historic coins and dozens of period pocket watches were found and seized inside a bank safe-deposit box held by one of the suspects. [1][2][3]
The financial investigation
According to investigators' reconstruction, from 2018 Malatesta formally divested himself of his entire corporate and real-estate assets through a transfer deemed fraudulent. Ownership of the assets was formally attributed to trusted front men, identified as two of the four suspects, and to third-party entities, while, according to investigators, remaining under Malatesta's hidden control. The three suspects are also provisionally charged with the fraudulent transfer of assets. The financial investigation reconstructed a flow of money that, from the people considered victims, is alleged to have reached Malatesta and his associates, in the form of cash and donations of land, homes and valuables. [1][2][3]
Related articles: Testimonies in the Almese sect investigation (October 2026)
Sources
- L'Agenda News — 6 November 2026
- TorinoToday — 6 November 2026
- Quotidiano Piemontese — 6 November 2026