Francesco Flauto, an Italian citizen sentenced in Romania to 4 years and 2 months in prison for drug trafficking and possession of drugs, will soon be transferred to Italy to serve the remainder of his sentence. The news was announced by the Farnesina through an official press release.
Flauto, born in Battipaglia on December 14, 1991, was arrested in Constanta, Romania, on April 30, 2023, along with another Italian citizen, in a police operation separate from the one that, on May 3, 2023, led to the arrest of three other Italians. On January 23, 2024, Flauto was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison. The sentence became final after the defendant chose not to appeal.
On February 14, 2024, Flauto was transferred from the Constanta-Poarta Alba penitentiary to the Bucharest-Rahova prison to serve his sentence. He subsequently requested to be transferred to Italy to serve the remainder of his sentence, a request that was accepted by the Romanian authorities thanks also to the intervention of the Italian Embassy in Bucharest and the Farnesina.
The Embassy, in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has been closely following the case, carrying out frequent consular visits and raising awareness among local authorities about the conditions of Flauto's detention. During a mission to Bucharest on March 6 and 7, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani She discussed the issue with her Romanian counterparts, Luminița Odobescu and Alina Gorghiu, urging treatment in line with European standards and supporting the transfer to Italy.
On July 14, 2024, Flauto's lawyer confirmed to the Embassy that the Court of Appeal in Italy recognized the Romanian ruling on July 12, 2024. Some administrative steps between the Ministries of Justice and Interior of the two countries are still needed to finalize the transfer. The Italian Embassy in Bucharest, in coordination with the Unit for the Protection of Nationals of the Farnesina, will continue to carefully monitor Flauto's situation, providing the necessary consular assistance to expedite his transfer to Italy.
Article published on 17 July 2024 - 13:21
