Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, a son of the late Luxottica patriarch, stated during a November 21st interrogation that he never “asked to carry out any illegal activity.” Instead, he claimed to have fallen victim to a “fraud that was being perpetrated against me” by individuals linked to the investigative agency Equalize, specifically naming former carabiniere Vincenzo De Marzio and IT technician Nunzio Samuele Calamucci.
In the 140-page transcript, which forms part of a recent case file, Del Vecchio Jr. described feelings of “fear” and alleged intimidation, stating he even felt “somewhat extorted.” He further alleged a attempt was made to “undermine the axis” between himself and EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri.
The interrogation reveals a complex and defensive narrative. Del Vecchio Jr. had been under investigation for alleged complicity in unauthorized computer access as a client of purported espionage activities targeting his family and an ex-girlfriend; however, his position was not included in the recent closure of the investigation.
Among the details emerging from the transcript is the alleged existence of a “list of more than 100 names,” reported to include 20-30 top managers and board members of EssilorLuxottica, the entire board of Delfin (the family holding company), his entire family, and others. This was presented as a list of subjects who had been “dossiered” by a “group of people.” De Marzio allegedly provided this list to Del Vecchio, and within this context, it was suggested to him that Milleri was also having him investigated. Del Vecchio told the prosecutor he dismissed this as “nonsense,” stating, “I was increasingly realizing that they were, in fact, using the situation for profit and not for my defense.”
He is recorded as stating, “I never believed the company had ever done anything against me – on the contrary, the company was close to me, personally Francesco Milleri, and it is also thanks to him (…) that we managed to get rid of these two people.”