(ANSA) - Agnelli heir and Fiat executive Lapo Elkann on Tuesday left the hospital where he was treated for a drug overdose and headed for a drug rehabilitation centre in the United States.
The 28-year-old Elkann left Turin's Mauriziano hospital at about 7 am and immediately flew to Switzerland, from where he was expected to take another flight to Tucson, Arizona. "After what has happened I need time to think," he said in a statement released by his lawyer. "In order to ensure I get as much peace as possible, I'm going to spend some time abroad before going back to work."
Elkann, the grandson of the late Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli, thanked doctors and staff at the Turin hospital before his departure. He gave no indication of how long he expected to stay in the American rehab clinic and asked the media to "respect my need for silence".
Elkann was questioned by Turin prosecutors on Monday in connection with the drug overdose which landed him in hospital. Investigators are keen to find out who gave him the drugs.
The Fiat executive reportedly confirmed to prosecutors that he had bought a first batch of cocaine from street dealers in central Turin before going to the apartment of a transsexual prostitute. He was apparently unable to give investigators more than a vague description of the dealers.
According to the most credited version of events, Elkann later asked a friend of his host to go and buy some more cocaine. He allegedly overdosed because one of the last doses he took was of heroin, not cocaine as he imagined. Prosecutors released no details of Monday's hour-long interview, which took place in the Mauriziano hospital to which Elkann was taken by ambulance on October 10.
Investigative sources said Elkann was questioned as a witness, not a suspect. Possession of small amounts of cocaine for personal use is not illegal in Italy. Elkann's host and two other transsexuals who joined them during the night, were questioned last week. They reportedly said that only he had taken drugs and that he had brought them with him.
The Fiat manager, who has until now been in charge of the group's brand promotion, told relatives who visited him on Friday he was "eager" to return to work. Since taking an executive position in the company, Elkann has successfully launched new sportswear and leatherware lines with the Fiat logo.
Commenting on his latest experience, he is widely reported to have commented: "I've really made a mess of things. I've been stupid."
