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Sex scandal mayor fights to be called ‘Honourable’

The mayor of a town in Puglia lost his "Honourable" title after being embroiled in a drugs and sex scandal in 2008, but now he's told staff he wants it back, despite still facing charges.

Sex scandal mayor fights to be called 'Honourable'
The mayor requested the title "honourable" be added to his signature. Signature photo: Shutterstock

In an email sent to staff at the town hall, Cosimo Mele, mayor of Carovigno, wrote: “From today’s date, all the documents carrying the mayor’s signature must include the title of 'Onorevole' [‘Honourable’]."

The message was then passed to the opposition centre-right and released to the media, Il Messaggero reported.

The note proved to be a surprise in some quarters, as Mele had lost the title in 2008 after falling from grace in a drugs and sex scandal. The previous year the town mayor reportedly spent a cocaine-fuelled night with an escort, Francesca Zenobi, in a hotel suite in central Rome.

Mele is now facing drugs charges over the incident, while Zenobi and her lawyer have been jailed for attempting to extort money from the mayor, Il Messaggero said.

After falling from power in 2008 the politician spent five years rebuilding his career, before being re-elected last year. 

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