One of the Vadalas released on bail

Family with alleged mafia links became known in Slovakia from the last story by murdered journalist Jan Kuciak.

Police checks in Calabria, illutsrative stock photoPolice checks in Calabria, illutsrative stock photo (Source: AP/SITA)

The Košice Regional Court upheld the ruling of the lower-instance court on June 25 and released Italian man Sebastiano Vadala out on bail, who is charged with making dangerous threats and committing disorderly conduct, the TASR newswire reported.

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Sebastiano is the brother of controversial Italian entrepreneur Antonino, who was also living in eastern Slovakia and was extradited from Slovakia to Italy on May 15, based on a European arrest warrant for drug dealing. Antonino came under media scrutiny in the aftermath of the double murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, when it was revealed that he had ties with figures in both the Italian Mafia and the Slovak Government Office and National Security.

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On June 12, Trebišov District Court decided to release him on a bail of €2,000, along with a pledge by Sebastiano Vadala to avoid contact with the aggrieved party and to submit to supervision by a probation officer. The prosecutor appealed against the ruling, but was confirmed by the regional court on Monday.

"The defendant allegedly physically attacked the victim by seizing him by the throat, choking him, telling him that he [Sebastiano] was a mobster and threatening to kill him. In the second case, he assaulted the man again and repeatedly hit him in the face," said Kośice Regional Prosecutor's Office spokesman Milan Filicko, adding that if found guilty, Vadala could be sentenced up to three years in jail.

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