Mafia gangster uses crocodile as a weapon

ROME, Italy: An Italian Mafiosi used a pet crocodile to intimidate clients and extort money from people. Antonio Cristofaro, a known criminal with Mafia family ties, kept a 40-kilogram caiman on the terrace of his condominium outside of Naples. The crocodile was 1.1-metres long and capable of pulling off a limb in one bite. The crocodile is protected under the Washington Convention and considered too dangerous to be kept as a pet. Authorities discovered the reptile last week while conducting a weapons raid on Cristofaro. According to CNN, this is not the first time Italian police have come across the illegal ownership of a reptile. Last year, authorities found a 2-metre crocodile housed with another Neopolitan drug dealer.

Federal court looking into Frida forgeries

MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Federal prosecutors are investigating a claim that more than 1,000 art pieces accredited to Frida Kahlo are forgeries. The grievance originated from the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Trust after the publication of two books featuring paintings, drawings and notes attributed to Kahlo. The works come from a private collection and are featured in the books Finding Frida Kahlo and The Labyrinth of Frida Kahlo: Death, Pain and Ambivalence. Publisher Katharine Myers said the pieces are not 100 per cent authenticated but still plans to keep selling the books despite the investigation. The Associated Press reported the owners of the art came from a carpenter who received five boxes from Kahlo. Frida Kahlo was known for her tormented self-portraits and her chaotic marriage to fellow Mexican artist Diego Rivera. She died in 1954.

Iranian mannequins need to maintain modesty according to morality police

TEHRAN, Iran: Iranian police are cracking down on window mannequins that do not follow the strict religious dress code. Shopkeepers are getting warnings if their mannequins are caught not wearing the customary head scarves and if those mannequins are showing too much body curve. Both men’s and women’s boutiques are being targeted. Since 2005, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power, the government has pursued a campaign against North American and European cultural influences in the Islamic Republic. Typically, the dress-attack was launched at the beginning of summer with the hot weather; however, the campaign was continued into winter to lobby against women’s narrow pants. Violations against the dress code receive a warning first and repeat offences are sometimes dealt with by mandatory guidance classes, Reuters reported.

Helicopter used in heist

STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Burglars took to the sky in a stolen helicopter after a rooftop raid on a cash depot in the Scandinavian capital. Shortly before dawn, robbers broke into security firm G4S through a roof window. Once inside, they stole several bags of money and departed in their helicopter. According to the Canadian Press, employees were in the building during the heist. None were injured. Witnesses heard loud bangs and noises but police could not confirm whether explosives were used. The explosives suspicion prevented police from using their own helicopters to investigate the scene. Authorities later discovered a gray helicopter abandoned near a lake outside of Stockholm. The chopper was reported stolen and is believed to be the one used during the robbery.

Published in Volume 64, Number 5 of The Uniter (October 1, 2009)