Diego Berlingieri
Diego Berlingieri is a lieutenant colonel of the Carabinieri, commander of the Operations Unit of the Carabinieri of Turin.
The Almese sect case
In 2026, as commander of the Operations Unit, Berlingieri led the operation code-named "Asmodeo", carried out by the Carabinieri of Turin and coordinated by the city's public prosecutor's office, concerning a residential community in Almese, in Valsusa, led by a man who described himself as "the chosen one" and who ran yoga and self-defense courses. According to the prosecution, the man approached vulnerable people, housing them in the community and subjecting them to physical and psychological abuse. The investigation, launched after sporadic complaints dating back to 2017, led to the arrest of the yoga teacher, a 59-year-old man [1][2].
On 30 September 2026, Berlingieri issued a public appeal to any other victims of the community, inviting them to come forward at their local Carabinieri stations to report the abuse they had suffered. He also stated that these were "victims who did not know they were victims" and advised that, in case of personal difficulties, people should turn exclusively to recognized professionals and not to individuals claiming unproven expertise [1][2].
Timeline
- — The Carabinieri of Turin, as part of operation "Asmodeo" into the Almese sect led by yoga teacher Bruno Antonio Malatesta, invite other possible victims of abuse to come forward. → La Stampa CronacaQui Torino
Related articles: Operation «Asmodeo»: arrest for enslavement in a pseudo-spiritual community (October 2026)
Pages linking here
Sources
- La Stampa — 1 October 2026
- CronacaQui Torino — 1 October 2026