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“I took [the cash] from my personal account,” Pagliarulo testified. “I knew in advance that these particular numbers were for Mr. Zampino.”

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He said he was also aware of $200,000 in renovations done to Zampino’s home — specifically to his kitchen. Pagliarulo was testifying about the corruption, Mafia ties and bid-rigging he witnessed and participated in during his days working with the Catania construction empire.

He said he had a spectacular falling out with his old friends several years ago. He said he owed them money after a business deal went wrong.

He said he was kidnapped for three hours and beaten up. He said his teeth and face were so badly damaged that he needed facial-reconstruction surgery.

He told the inquiry that funeral flowers were also sent to his family home, as a message: pay, or else.

It wasn’t the first time he’d witnessed a violent attitude in the industry. He said that when he was on better terms with the Catanias, they discussed the possibility of torching a rival company’s vehicles.

As for corruption, Pagliarulo said bribes were rampant and in one case it consisted of paying down the mortage on the house of a municipal engineer.

An inquiry lawyer asked Pagliarulo how far the Catanias would go to maintain their position in the construction industry.

Pagliarulo referred to his own kidnapping and beating.

“If I was his best friend at the time, and look what he did to me, you can just imagine what he’d do to a stranger,” he said.

“In the community, you don’t mess around with these two people,” he said, referring to the father and son team that built the business. “They’re connected to a crime family.”

He also described lavish parties thrown by his old associates — including a birthday party he says was attended by Gloria Gaynor, best known for the disco hit, “I Will Survive.”