Rome, they offered selfies and then demanded money: three “gladiators” accused of extortion
At my signal, unleash the camera. Three people dressed up as gladiators and centurions demanded money from tourists for taking part in an “imperial selfie” in front of the Colosseum. For which they themselves had set out. Now, they are seriously suspected of the crime of extortion. Against them, the State Police – following investigations coordinated by the Public Prosecutor of Rome – executed an order for the application of the precautionary measure. Between August and September 2022, several complaints from foreign tourists were collected by the Celio police station. There is talk of extortion up to 500 euros.
The modus operandi
The modus operandi it was always the same: the men in costume reached the unfortunate people who were admiring the historic setting of the Flavian amphitheater, and after having invited them to take a nice group photo, they demanded payment in cash. Even with violence and threats. A tourist from northern Italy reported hearing the question 40€. Upon his refusal, 2 of the 3 suspects, after blocking and surrounding him, with the threat of beating him, will extort him €150. An Irish tourist who instead had tried to dodge the payment of not having cash, would have been broken, pushed and then forced to go to the nearest ATM, where he withdrew and then handed over the sum of 200 euros.
The three, not happy, asked him to go back and take others 50€. The three greedy mirmilloni were identified thanks to the help of the Scientific Police and under the coordination of the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office. The investigators also collected a series of findings thanks to which the Public Prosecutor’s Office itself requested and obtained from the Gip of the Court of Rome a precautionary measure against the suspects. The measure of house arrest was ordered for two of them, while for the third suspect, in the absence of a suitable place to carry out the same measure, translation to prison was ordered.