Carabinieri appeal to the victims of the Almese sect

On 30 September 2026 lieutenant colonel Diego Berlingieri, commander of Turin's carabinieri Operational Unit, made a public appeal to any as yet unidentified victims of the Almese sect, in Lower Val di Susa, led for years by the yoga "teacher" Bruno Antonio Malatesta, 59. The appeal came a day after Malatesta's arrest, carried out at dawn as part of the carabinieri operation named "Asmodeo".[1][2]

Operation Asmodeo

The investigation, coordinated by the Turin public prosecutor's office and deputy prosecutor Davide Pretti, began with the first complaints from Malatesta's victims dating back to 2017, seven years before the carabinieri investigation started. The initial complaints were sporadic and partly contradictory. According to investigators, the victims identified so far number several dozen, but the investigation is ongoing and more people may be involved.[2]

According to investigators' reconstruction, Malatesta, who called himself "the chosen one", lured vulnerable people by offering yoga and self-defence classes, then housed them within his own residential community and subjected them to physical and psychological abuse, sexual violence, sleep deprivation and beatings.[1][2]

The appeal to the victims

"These are victims who did not know they were victims," said lieutenant colonel Berlingieri, explaining that the invitation is addressed "to all people who may recognise themselves as victims of this abuse or violence" to go to their local carabinieri stations to report what happened.[1][2]

The commander also advised that, to protect against sects which take advantage of illness or moments of weakness, people should not rely on those claiming skills they do not actually have, but should turn, if necessary, exclusively to recognised professionals.[2]

Pages linking here

Sources

La Stampa — 1 October 2026
CronacaQui Torino — 1 October 2026

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