BERNARDO PROVENZANO, THE MAFIA'S "BOSS OF BOSSES" WHO WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK AFTER 43 YEARS ON THE RUN, REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING HIS FIRST INTERROGATION BY MAGISTRATES ON THURSDAY, HIS LAWYER SAID. ITALIAN POLICE FOUND PROVENZANO ON APRIL 11, HOLED UP AT A FARMHOUSE OUTSIDE HIS SOUTHERN HOME TOWN CORLEONE, AFTER TRACKING A CLEAN LAUNDRY PACKAGE SENT BY HIS WIFE, REUTERS REPORTED. HE IS NOW IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AT A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON NEAR TERNI, IN CENTRAL ITALY. PROSECUTORS SAY PROVENZANO WAS THE UNDISPUTED HEAD OF THE COSA NOSTRA MOB WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED. DURING HIS TIME IN HIDING, HE WAS SENTENCED IN ABSENTIA TO LIFE IN JAIL IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAFIA'S MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMES OF RECENT DECADES, INCLUDING THE KILLINGS IN 1992 OF TWO TOP ANTI-MAFIA MAGISTRATES. UNDER ITALIAN LAW, A SUSPECT HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND PROSECUTORS HAD NOT EXPECTED PROVENZANO TO BE FORTHCOMING. -
