Moretti Avoided Jail Thanks to Bottinelli's 200,000 Franc Bail

A mafia turncoat, Claude Chossat, told Le Matin Dimanche that rally cars were a money-laundering channel for La Brise de Mer, the gang behind a 31.4 million franc UBS heist in 1990. Chossat said the sport let boss Francis Mariani, killed in 2009, mix business with pleasure, cleaning over 30 million francs from the robbery and Paris gambling profits. Moretti, who owned the burned bar with his wife, avoided jail thanks to Bottinelli's 200,000 franc bail. Chossat recalled saving Moretti's uncle from Mariani, who wanted him dead over a property deal, but downplayed the father's presence at Mariani's funeral.

Racing cars cost 150,000 to 200,000 francs, and Chossat introduced wealthy rally enthusiasts to Mariani. Police in Ajaccio found the gang also bought liquidated businesses and luxury watches in Geneva, exploiting Swiss discretion. The Morettis received over 5 million francs in Swiss credit after Credit Lyonnais cut them off.