The Palermo court has acquitted Matteo Salvini of the charge of kidnapping and refusal to perform official duties. According to the panel of the second section presided over by Roberto Murgia, associate judges Andrea Innocenti and Elisabetta Villa, the former Interior Minister is not responsible for having denied and delayed the disembarkation of the 147 migrants aboard the NGO ship Open Arms in August 2019. The public prosecution had requested a six-year prison sentence for the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure.
In the courtroom, the prosecution was represented by the deputy prosecutor Marzia Sabella and the public prosecutors Gery Ferrara and Giorgia Righi, who on September 14th requested a 6-year prison sentence for Salvini.
Civil parties in the trial are some of the refugees held on the ship, together with various organizations including Legambiente, Arci, AccoglieRete, Giuristi Democratici, Ciss, Mediterranea Saving Humans, Cittadinanza Attiva, the founder of Open Arms Oscar Camps, the commander of the ship Reig Creus, the head of mission Anna Isabel Montes, the Municipality of Barcelona, Emergency and Asgi.
The lawyers of the civil parties have asked for damages of one million euros. The trial, which began on September 15, 2021, saw 24 hearings and 45 witnesses. Matteo Salvini defended by the lawyer Giulia Bongiorno, who asked for the acquittal of her client, claiming that "the fact does not exist".
Article published on 20 December 2024 - 19:45
The Palermo court acquitted Matteo Salvini, but I wonder if it is right that a person can deny help to those who need it. The judges' decision was very controversial and raised a lot of controversy among the people.