Delfo Zorzi
Encyclopedia
Delfo Zorzi, presently known as , is an Italian-born Japanese citizen accused of terrorism in his country of origin.
, Italy, on July 3, 1947, joined neo-fascist organization Ordine Nuovo
in 1966, and later became head of the organization's chapter in Mestre
, the city where his family dealt in furs.
In 1968 he moved to Naples
to study Asian languages. He graduated with a thesis on Bushidō
, a Japanese code of conduct and a way of life loosely analogous to the European concept of chivalry
.
He came under investigation for the Piazza Fontana bombing after witnesses indicated him as the material executor of the crime, the man who built the explosive device and on December 12, 1969 left it at the offices of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura ("National Agrarian Bank") in Piazza Fontana, Milan
, Italy
.
In 1974 he moved to Japan and in 1989 he took Japanese citizenship with his present name, Roi Hāgen.
Re-tried in absentia for the Piazza Fontana bombing, he was at first sentenced to life imprisonment
, but was later acquitted
in appeal for lack of evidence on March 12, 2004. On May 3, 2005 the supreme Court of Cassation
definitively acquitted Zorzi from the accusation.
In the meanwhile, Hagen has been investigated and sent to a higher court for the Piazza della Loggia bombing
in Brescia
, a crime of which he is still accused of.
Today Hagen lives in the Tokyo
neighborhood of Aoyama
and, because Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Italy, cannot be extradited. A successful businessman, he directs from Tokyo several import-export firms in Asia and in Europe.
In September 2005 an investigation by magazine L'Espresso
accused Hagen of dealing in furs in Italy via a series of firms under an assumed name. Specifically, he is the alleged owner of the shop Oxus in Milano's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built on land belonging to the city, of another shop of the same chain in Rome
's Piazza Fiume, and of other Oxus businesses in Conegliano Veneto and Pordenone
.
He intervened via telephone in a television program ("Porta a Porta" hosted by Bruno Vespa). The conversation was partly re-broadcast during the television program Blu notte, conducted by Carlo Lucarelli
in an episode dedicated to the Strage di Piazza Fontana bombing, during which he was again interviewed via telephone.
Italy claims Hagen's Japanese citizenship may have been obtained illegally, since at the time he hadn't given up his Italian passport. Legal proceedings to strip him of his Japanese citizenship to allow extradition do not seem to be proceeding well, however, and his extradition to Italy is unlikely.
Biography
Delfo Zorzi/Roi Hagen was born in Arzignano, near VicenzaVicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, Italy, on July 3, 1947, joined neo-fascist organization Ordine Nuovo
Ordine Nuovo
Ordine Nuovo , full name Centro Studi Ordine Nuovo, "New Order Scholarship Center") was an Italian far right cultural and extra-parliamentary political and terrorist organization founded by Pino Rauti in 1956...
in 1966, and later became head of the organization's chapter in Mestre
Mestre
Mestre is a city part of the comune of Venice, in Veneto, northern Italy.The city is connected to Venice by a large rail and road bridge, called Ponte della Libertà ....
, the city where his family dealt in furs.
In 1968 he moved to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
to study Asian languages. He graduated with a thesis on Bushidō
Bushido
, meaning "Way of the Warrior-Knight", is a Japanese word which is used to describe a uniquely Japanese code of conduct and a way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. It originates from the samurai moral code and stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and...
, a Japanese code of conduct and a way of life loosely analogous to the European concept of chivalry
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
.
He came under investigation for the Piazza Fontana bombing after witnesses indicated him as the material executor of the crime, the man who built the explosive device and on December 12, 1969 left it at the offices of Banca Nazionale dell'Agricoltura ("National Agrarian Bank") in Piazza Fontana, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
In 1974 he moved to Japan and in 1989 he took Japanese citizenship with his present name, Roi Hāgen.
Re-tried in absentia for the Piazza Fontana bombing, he was at first sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
, but was later acquitted
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
in appeal for lack of evidence on March 12, 2004. On May 3, 2005 the supreme Court of Cassation
Court of Cassation (Italy)
The Supreme Court of Cassation is the major court of last resort in Italy. It has its seat in the Rome Hall of Justice.The Court of Cassation exists also to “ensure the observation and the correct interpretation of law” by ensuring the same application of law in the inferior and appeal courts...
definitively acquitted Zorzi from the accusation.
In the meanwhile, Hagen has been investigated and sent to a higher court for the Piazza della Loggia bombing
Piazza della Loggia bombing
The Piazza della Loggia bombing was a bombing that took place on the morning of 28 May 1974, in Brescia, Italy during an anti-fascist protest which killed eight people and wounded over 90...
in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, a crime of which he is still accused of.
Today Hagen lives in the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
neighborhood of Aoyama
Aoyama
Aoyama may refer to:-Places:* Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan** Aoyama Gakuin University, famous university located in Aoyama, Tokyo** Aoyama-itchōme Station, a railway station in Minato, Tokyo, Japan...
and, because Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Italy, cannot be extradited. A successful businessman, he directs from Tokyo several import-export firms in Asia and in Europe.
In September 2005 an investigation by magazine L'Espresso
L'Espresso
l'Espresso is an Italian newsmagazine. It is one of the two most prominent Italian weeklies, the other being Panorama. Since the latter has been acquired by right-wing tycoon and politician Silvio Berlusconi, l'Espresso enjoys the reputation of being the main politically independent newsmagazine...
accused Hagen of dealing in furs in Italy via a series of firms under an assumed name. Specifically, he is the alleged owner of the shop Oxus in Milano's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built on land belonging to the city, of another shop of the same chain in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
's Piazza Fiume, and of other Oxus businesses in Conegliano Veneto and Pordenone
Pordenone
Pordenone is a comune of Pordenone province of northeast Italy in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.The name comes from the Latin "Portus Naonis" meaning the port on the river Noncello - History :...
.
He intervened via telephone in a television program ("Porta a Porta" hosted by Bruno Vespa). The conversation was partly re-broadcast during the television program Blu notte, conducted by Carlo Lucarelli
Carlo Lucarelli
Carlo Lucarelli is an Italian crime-writer, TV presenter, and magazine editor. He was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger in 2003 for the novel Almost Blue.-Biography:...
in an episode dedicated to the Strage di Piazza Fontana bombing, during which he was again interviewed via telephone.
Italy claims Hagen's Japanese citizenship may have been obtained illegally, since at the time he hadn't given up his Italian passport. Legal proceedings to strip him of his Japanese citizenship to allow extradition do not seem to be proceeding well, however, and his extradition to Italy is unlikely.
See also
- Strategy of tensionStrategy of tensionThe strategy of tension is a theory that describes how to divide, manipulate, and control public opinion using fear, propaganda, disinformation, psychological warfare, agents provocateurs, and false flag terrorist actions....
pursued by Gladio