A 78-year-old man from Dugenta has been acquitted of receiving stolen goods, relating to the possession of archaeological artifacts: Judge Telaro ruled that the act did not constitute a crime, accepting the defense's argument.
The case began with an investigation launched by the Crotone Public Prosecutor's Office and conducted by the Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit, who had carried out a search of the man's home in 2019.
The investigation and the search
During the inspection, 15 were discovered archaeological finds, including vases and plates dating back to the 4th century BC, displayed in a display case in the home. The man had told investigators that he had purchased them in good faith from a stall in Pompeii.
Consulting and restitution
Following the seizure of the materials, a consultancy ordered by the Prosecutor's Office established that 13 of the 15 finds were inauthentic, leading to their restitution. Two finds remained suspect in authenticity, but the differentiation between the objects was not based on technical analysis, but exclusively on a summary assessment.
The outcome of the trial
After the documents were transferred to Benevento, the 78-year-old was brought to trial. The acquittal confirmed that the street stall purchase did not constitute a crime. The man, represented by lawyer Alessandro Della Ratta, was cleared of all charges.
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