According to La Presse, the brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn and Roman Hamrlik know Pasquale Mangiola, an associate of organized crime. Mangiola was arrested by the SPVM, last week during Operation Ax.
Six charges are hanging over Mangiola, 38 years old, including possession and traffic of cocaine and also carrying a prohibited firearm.
The Kostitsyn brothers allegedly communicated with the suspect several times a week, the conversations were recorded in a transaction. The two brothers were also seen in trendy restaurants on St. Laurent Boulevard with the alleged criminal. The police also revealed that Hamrlik has been seen in the vicinity of Mangiola without being too close to him.
Still according to the newspaper, no suspicion weighs against Canadian players. However, they could be interrogated.
Pasquale Mangiola took Sergei Kostitsyn under his wing when they arrived in Montreal, even helping them find their homes and vehicles. Passionate about hockey, he provided luxury cars, alcohol and even companions for a night, to the delight of their hosts.
Apparently Mangiola had access to credit cards of the two brothers and that documents featuring the logo of the Montreal Canadiens were identified during a search at his home.
However, it is impossible to know what role the two brothers played in the entourage of the suspect. Questioned by the media after the game Thursday in Pittsburgh, A. Kostitsyn said he knows Mangiola, but he does not "know anything about him."
No criminal accusations or charges have been filed.
