Story By: Maja Mishevksa, Sub Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
An Italian court has authorised the seizure of jewellery and paintings worth millions from Hollywood legend Gina Lollobrigida over fears her toyboy manager is slowly selling them off for his own advantage.
The decision comes after a court in the Italian capital Rome ordered Lollobrigida’s fortune and estate be managed by an administrator after her relatives accused her assistant and former ‘manager’ Andrea Piazzolla, 32, of taking advantage of her age to sell off her valuables for his own financial gain.
Judge Eleonora Lombardi has now ordered the administrator to confiscate valuable objects such as awards, painting and jewellery from the home of Lollobrigida, 92, and keep them in a safe place.
The decision came after some of the iconic actress’ valuables were auctioned off. Piazzolla has been accused of selling off her estate to make millions for himself.
Lawyer Michele Gentiloni, who represents Lollobrigida’s only son Milko Solfic, and his son, Dimitri, said “the goal is to keep her estate intact and remove the the risk of it being wasted away”.
Her family have also reportedly launched a criminal case against Piazzolla, 32, who they claim is taking advantage of the fact the elderly actress does not have the mental capacity to look after her fortune.
The actress, however, who supports her manager is reportedly not happy with the move and issued a statement saying: “It has been decided that I am going to die in an ignoble way like a criminal. In a civilised country, these serious and unfair abuses cannot be tolerated.”
She said the decision will see her live in “an inevitable condition of scarcity and evident annoyance” in her mansion in the Appia Antica area of Rome without the memories of her lifetime.
Prosecutors are reportedly investigating bank operations and purchases made between 2013 and 2018 involving the actress’ estate which were allegedly made by Piazzolla.
Local media report he was previously named the administrator of a society managing the actress’ estate and in 2015 he sold three properties next to the exclusive Piazza de Spagna in Rome with a value of 2.1 million EUR (1,863,498 GBP).
Piazzolla is also believed to have made bank transfers totalling 119,000 EUR (105,598 GBP) and bought luxury cars including a Ferrari with the actress’ money.
The trial is set to take place on 9th July and Lollobrigida’s ex-husband Javier Rigau, who is 34 years her junior, has also been named in the case.
She eventually said he had tricked her into marrying her in November 2010 and she asked the Pope to annul the marriage, which Pope Francis agreed to last year.
Lollobrigida was famed for her curves, starring alongside Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn, Burt Lancaster, and Sean Connery among others in her legendary career.
She was nominated three times for Golden Globe awards and won one in 1961 for World Film Favourite-Female. She was awarded a plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
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