Switzerland has always been a key destination for Italy's mafia bosses to launder their assets or hide their cash, but recent probes show that Italian organised crime is broadening its activities there.
Some groups, in particular the 'Ndrangheta from southern Italy's
Calabria region, are also investing in property and businesses here, as well as
trafficking arms and drugs through Switzerland, sparking alarm among Swiss law
enforcers.
Keen to stop the mafia from spreading its reach in the
Swiss economy, federal police this year made the fight against Italian
organised crime a priority.
"The 'Ndrangheta is a clear priority of the work of
the federal criminal police this year," said Stefan Kunfermann, a
spokesman of the Federal Police Office (Fedpol) told AFP.
They have been "moving into investments in
construction, property and restaurants" not just in Ticino -- the canton
bordering Italy, but also other cantons, he noted.
Switzerland is also being used for "drug trafficking
on a large scale" and as a hideout for mafia members being hunted by
police, added Kunfermann.
He cited, for instance, a case before the courts in
October 2009 of a trafficker who had brought more than 200 kilograms (440
pounds) of cocaine to Switzerland and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
"He was acting under the mandate of a clan of the
'Ndrangheta," said Kunfermann.
"During the summer of 2010, several cases also
showed the implantation in particular of the 'Ndrangheta in Switzerland,"
added the spokesman.
In one example, the head of a mafia clan who was
sentenced to 21 years in prison in Calabria had lived for several years in
Switzerland.
Another member of the mafia was extradited from
Switzerland to Italy after havinb een sentenced to 11 years in prison for arms
and explosives trafficking and concealment, said Kunfermann.
In its latest annual report, Fedpol said it expected the
mafia to transfer more of their businesses to Switzerland as they were coming
under increasing pressure in Italy "due to the determination of
authorities."
Federal judge Jacques Ducry, who this year completed a
probe into 'Ndrangheta activities in Switzerland, said the gang had links in
Zurich and Ticino.
In an interview with Swiss newspaper Le Temps, Ducry
claimed that two financial companies -- PP Finance and World Financial Services
-- were controlled by members of organised crime outfits.
"They gathered money that they had stolen in part
from their clients by driving the two companies into bankruptcy. They then hid
a part of this money and bought land in Sardinia.
"It's the truth and we're talking about tens of
millions of francs.
"Our hypothesis is that these people who run these
structures are part of the criminal organisation.
"Behind these figureheads, there are two or three
people who go up to Calabria and who take care of these companies very
intensively," said Ducry.
Ducry's report was submitted in June to the federal
attorney-general's office, said Jeannette Balmer, spokeswoman of the office.
Stephanie Oesch, author of the book "Organised
Crime, A Threat for the Swiss Financial Centre?", estimates that the
Italian mafia have laundered "between 20 to 30 billion Swiss francs"
(20.8 to 31.2 billion US dollars) in the past five years in Switzerland through
investments in restaurants, property, art or luxury."
These illegal groups have clearly increased their
presence here, a sign that the law is not adapted to act efficiently against
them, said Oesch, who is also researcher at the University of Zurich.
Ducry meanwhile warned that Switzerland was not doing
enough to tackle the problem.
"Switzerland is rather slow, too bureaucratic -- in
my view, examining magistrates need to coordinate better their investigative
work with cantons and foreign authorities.
"The law gives investigators significant means to
confront organised crime and money laundering, it must be used in a courageous
and intelligent manner," he added.
fecha |
Título |
08/03/2022| |
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08/02/2022| |
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09/05/2020| |
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08/05/2020| |
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29/04/2020| |
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16/03/2020| |
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12/03/2020| |
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10/03/2020| |
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06/03/2020| |
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05/03/2020| |
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02/03/2020| |
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24/02/2020| |
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22/02/2020| |
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18/02/2020| |
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08/02/2020| |
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08/02/2020| |
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29/01/2020| |
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21/01/2020| |
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30/12/2019| |
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28/12/2019| |
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16/12/2019| |
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14/12/2019| |
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25/11/2019| |
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24/11/2019| |
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10/11/2019| |
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23/10/2019| |
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18/10/2019| |
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14/10/2019| |
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29/09/2019| |
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29/08/2019| |
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12/08/2019| |
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10/08/2019| |
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01/08/2019| |
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25/07/2019| |
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22/11/2018| |
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05/11/2018| |
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18/10/2018| |
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17/10/2018| |
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10/10/2018| |
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15/09/2018| |
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11/03/2018| |
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20/02/2018| |
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20/02/2018| |
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28/12/2017| |
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25/08/2017| |
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15/08/2017| |
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04/07/2017| |
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10/05/2017| |
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04/05/2017| |
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17/04/2017| |
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10/03/2017| |
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16/02/2017| |
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30/12/2016| |
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07/12/2016| |
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27/11/2016| |
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21/08/2016| |
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09/07/2016| |
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19/05/2016| |
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18/04/2016| |
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08/04/2016| |
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07/04/2016| |
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05/04/2016| |
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05/04/2016| |
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02/04/2016| |
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01/04/2016| |
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25/12/2015| |
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12/12/2015| |
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19/11/2015| |
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08/10/2015| |
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04/10/2015| |
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08/07/2015| |
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15/06/2015| |
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07/06/2015| |
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17/03/2015| |
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08/10/2014| |
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07/10/2014| |
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06/10/2014| |
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27/08/2014| |
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25/08/2014| |
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25/08/2014| |
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20/06/2014| |
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29/04/2014| |
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28/04/2014| |
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28/04/2014| |
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24/03/2014| |
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29/12/2013| |
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29/12/2013| |
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20/11/2013| |
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20/11/2013| |
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08/11/2013| |
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31/10/2013| |
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27/10/2013| |
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26/10/2013| |
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26/10/2013| |
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15/10/2013| |
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15/10/2013| |
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04/09/2013| |
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24/08/2013| |
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22/08/2013| |
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17/08/2013| |
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15/08/2013| |
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09/08/2013| |
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27/07/2013| |
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26/07/2013| |
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20/07/2013| |
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20/07/2013| |
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20/07/2013| |
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03/07/2013| |
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27/06/2013| |
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14/06/2013| |
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14/06/2013| |
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29/05/2013| |
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15/05/2013| |
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14/05/2013| |
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07/05/2013| |
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27/04/2013| |
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11/03/2013| |
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25/02/2013| |
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24/02/2013| |
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24/01/2013| |
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30/12/2012| |
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15/12/2012| |
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03/12/2012| |
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29/11/2012| |
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17/11/2012| |
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14/11/2012| |
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11/09/2012| |
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27/08/2012| |
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25/08/2012| |
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21/08/2012| |
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17/08/2012| |
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08/08/2012| |
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06/08/2012| |
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01/08/2012| |
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01/08/2012| |
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31/07/2012| |
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31/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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29/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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28/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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27/07/2012| |
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24/07/2012| |
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19/07/2012| |
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18/07/2012| |
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18/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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16/07/2012| |
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13/07/2012| |
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12/07/2012| |
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12/07/2012| |
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10/07/2012| |
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06/07/2012| |
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04/07/2012| |
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04/07/2012| |
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03/07/2012| |
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29/06/2012| |
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18/06/2012| |
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17/06/2012| |
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28/05/2012| |
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22/05/2012| |
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16/05/2012| |
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11/05/2012| |
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10/05/2012| |
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06/05/2012| |
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06/05/2012| |
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05/05/2012| |
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02/05/2012| |
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01/05/2012| |
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30/04/2012| |
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22/04/2012| |
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21/04/2012| |
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20/04/2012| |
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28/03/2012| |
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26/03/2012| |
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19/03/2012| |
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19/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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07/03/2012| |
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06/03/2012| |
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06/03/2012| |
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04/03/2012| |
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04/03/2012| |
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02/03/2012| |
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02/03/2012| |
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02/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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01/03/2012| |
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25/02/2012| |
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25/02/2012| |
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25/02/2012| |
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20/02/2012| |
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20/02/2012| |
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20/02/2012| |
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05/11/2011| |
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03/11/2011| |
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25/10/2011| |
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25/10/2011| |
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16/10/2011| |
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15/10/2011| |
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05/10/2011| |
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02/10/2011| |
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01/10/2011| |
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29/09/2011| |
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29/09/2011| |
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29/09/2011| |
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28/09/2011| |
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27/09/2011| |
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26/09/2011| |
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22/09/2011| |
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15/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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08/09/2011| |
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07/09/2011| |
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07/09/2011| |
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01/09/2011| |
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01/09/2011| |
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31/08/2011| |
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31/08/2011| |
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19/08/2011| |
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17/08/2011| |
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12/08/2011| |
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20/07/2011| |
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20/07/2011| |
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18/07/2011| |
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18/07/2011| |
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15/07/2011| |
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15/07/2011| |
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12/07/2011| |
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12/07/2011| |
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03/07/2011| |
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03/07/2011| |
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30/06/2011| |
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30/06/2011| |
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20/06/2011| |
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20/06/2011| |
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16/06/2011| |
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16/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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12/06/2011| |
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11/06/2011| |
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11/06/2011| |
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10/06/2011| |
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10/06/2011| |
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05/06/2011| |
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05/06/2011| |
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26/05/2011| |
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26/05/2011| |
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25/05/2011| |
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25/05/2011| |
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24/05/2011| |
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24/05/2011| |
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21/05/2011| |
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21/05/2011| |
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20/05/2011| |
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20/05/2011| |
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19/05/2011| |
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19/05/2011| |
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18/05/2011| |
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18/05/2011| |
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17/05/2011| |
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17/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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16/05/2011| |
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14/05/2011| |
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14/05/2011| |
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11/05/2011| |
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11/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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09/05/2011| |
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05/05/2011| |
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05/05/2011| |
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29/04/2011| |
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29/04/2011| |
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23/04/2011| |
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23/04/2011| |
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22/04/2011| |
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22/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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21/04/2011| |
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20/04/2011| |
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20/04/2011| |
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19/04/2011| |
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19/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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18/04/2011| |
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16/04/2011| |
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16/04/2011| |
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13/04/2011| |
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09/04/2011| |
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07/04/2011| |
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06/04/2011| |
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04/04/2011| |
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04/04/2011| |
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31/03/2011| |
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30/03/2011| |
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29/03/2011| |
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29/03/2011| |
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26/03/2011| |
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24/03/2011| |
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22/03/2011| |
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19/03/2011| |
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13/03/2011| |
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09/03/2011| |
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07/03/2011| |
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04/03/2011| |
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03/03/2011| |
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26/02/2011| |
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25/02/2011| |
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24/02/2011| |
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24/02/2011| |
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22/02/2011| |
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17/02/2011| |
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15/02/2011| |
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23/01/2011| |
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23/01/2011| |
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22/01/2011| |
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21/01/2011| |
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20/01/2011| |
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17/01/2011| |
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13/01/2011| |
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13/01/2011| |
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11/01/2011| |
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07/01/2011| |
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05/01/2011| |
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26/12/2010| |
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24/12/2010| |
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14/12/2010| |
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30/11/2010| |
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20/11/2010| |
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17/11/2010| |
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11/11/2010| |
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04/11/2010| |
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03/11/2010| |
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01/11/2010| |
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22/10/2010| |
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19/10/2010| |
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03/10/2010| |
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03/10/2010| |
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30/09/2010| |
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15/09/2010| |
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24/08/2010| |
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24/08/2010| |
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16/08/2010| |
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16/08/2010| |
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08/08/2010| |
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06/08/2010| |
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02/08/2010| |
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19/07/2010| |
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12/07/2010| |
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09/06/2010| |
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08/06/2010| |
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02/06/2010| |
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27/05/2010| |
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26/05/2010| |
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11/05/2010| |
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07/05/2010| |
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07/05/2010| |
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05/05/2010| |
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04/05/2010| |
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13/04/2010| |
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06/04/2010| |
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02/04/2010| |
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08/03/2010| |
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16/02/2010| |
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11/02/2010| |
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06/02/2010| |
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01/02/2010| |
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31/01/2010| |
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12/01/2010| |
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31/12/2009| |
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28/12/2009| |
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26/12/2009| |
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02/12/2009| |
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02/12/2009| |
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01/12/2009| |
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01/12/2009| |
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28/11/2009| |
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28/11/2009| |
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27/11/2009| |
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27/11/2009| |
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16/11/2009| |
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16/11/2009| |
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15/10/2009| |
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08/10/2009| |
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07/10/2009| |
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05/10/2009| |
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02/10/2009| |
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29/09/2009| |
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18/09/2009| |
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17/09/2009| |
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14/09/2009| |
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11/09/2009| |
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02/09/2009| |
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01/09/2009| |
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30/08/2009| |
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27/08/2009| |
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27/08/2009| |
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18/08/2009| |
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18/08/2009| |
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09/08/2009| |
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09/08/2009| |
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07/08/2009| |
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07/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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06/08/2009| |
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04/08/2009| |
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04/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/08/2009| |
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02/04/2009| |
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30/03/2009| |
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28/03/2009| |
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28/03/2009| |
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28/03/2009| |
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27/03/2009| |
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26/03/2009| |
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14/03/2009| |
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14/03/2009| |
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04/03/2009| |
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04/03/2009| |
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02/03/2009| |
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02/03/2009| |
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08/02/2008| |
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21/10/2007| |
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26/09/2007| |
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28/06/2007| |
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20/12/2006| |
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20/12/2006| |
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10/12/2006| |
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10/12/2006| |
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01/11/2006| |
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02/06/2006| |
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23/02/2006| |
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29/01/2006| |
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12/01/2006| |
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12/01/2006| |
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04/11/2005| |
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04/06/2005| |
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30/11/1999| |
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