Woman found dead in Lake Lugano had warned police in 2021

The woman who later accused former Ticino government member Claudio Zali had told police in 2021 that she had been threatened, SRF reported, citing material obtained by its Italian-language broadcaster RSI.

The 52-year-old, identified by the pseudonym Sabrina, was found dead in Lake Lugano on August 18. In July, she had published audio on Instagram in which Zali said he had “beaten up” a woman. She had remained in contact with RSI in the final months of her life and shared recordings, chats and emails with the broadcaster.

In a call in late May 2021, Sabrina told Ticino cantonal police that she had been held in a car and threatened, but did not name anyone. In another recording, made the evening after her first interview, she said she had shown chats with Zali to Attorney General Andrea Pagani. Pagani confirmed he had briefly reviewed them, but said he had found no evidence of an offence that could be prosecuted without a complaint.

Pagani told RSI that Zali was summoned on September 7, 2021, but chose not to give a statement. Pagani said there was therefore no interview transcript, only a note of the meeting, and that there had not been enough evidence to open an investigation. Sabrina later filed a complaint about the incidents but withdrew it, and the case was closed.

A friend told RSI that Sabrina began collecting material after the case was closed “to protect herself”. In November 2025, after another alleged incident of violence, she decided to speak out, first on social media and then to the authorities.

In May 2026, Sabrina was questioned as a suspect in a separate case over the alleged misuse of a communications device to send messages from an anonymous profile. She handed prosecutors a USB drive containing material. They subsequently opened a new investigation into Zali over suspected offences against sexual integrity. Sabrina was called as a witness on July 23, days after publishing the audio recordings.

On September 2, Zali called the investigation unfounded and said it stemmed from a false complaint by a woman driven by deep resentment. He denies all allegations and declined to comment to RSI. He is presumed innocent.

Prosecutors are also investigating an alleged assault Sabrina is said to have suffered on the night of August 7 to 8. Authorities said an autopsy attributed her death to asphyxiation by drowning following a combination of alcohol and medication. They ruled out third-party involvement from the outset.