Crossword Genius

Like the original Mafia’s crime, receiving lashes (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sicilian

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'like the original mafia's' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'crime receiving lashes' is the wordplay.
'crime' becomes 'sin'.
'receiving' is an insertion indicator.
'lashes' becomes 'cilia' (I've seen this in another clue).
'sin' enclosing 'cilia' is 'SICILIAN'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sicilian that I've seen before include "Person from the Italian island" , "One from the Italian island" , "Perhaps Don Corleone" , "Mafioso may be" , "defence across the board" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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