Naples – The first-instance trial before the Military Tribunal of Naples against two high-ranking officers of the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard, accused on various counts of military embezzlement, ended in acquittal.
The defendants and the accusations
In the dock are retired Chief Inspector Admiral Nunzio Martello and Captain Sergio Lo Presti.
Martello was called to answer for military embezzlement in conjunction and continued, in relation to the alleged improper use of some aircraft of the Port Authority Corps and military vehicles.
Lo Presti, on the other hand, was charged with aggravated military embezzlement. According to the prosecution, the officer—who at the time held interim decision-making authority over flight planning and aircraft deployment—had falsely represented the existence of institutional needs by authorizing Admiral Martello's air and ground transfers between Pratica di Mare military airport, Catania Fontanarossa, and his private residence, a behavior that was repeated over time.
The Court's decision
The panel of judges, presided over by Dr. Filippo Verrone, President of the First Section of the Military Tribunal of Naples, with associate judges Dr. Alba Francesca Zoppoli and General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, after the closing speech by Public Prosecutor Dr. Alfredo Tammaro, pronounced a verdict of acquittal for both defendants because the facts were not proved.
The trial and the defenses
The procedure had started in March 2025.
During the trial, lawyers Attilio Floresta, representing Admiral Martello, and Michela Scafetta, representing Captain Lo Presti, argued that the alleged conduct was groundless.
The principles of military order
The ruling is consistent with the specific function of military jurisdiction, which is called upon to ensure respect for the principles of discipline, loyalty, and integrity that underpin the armed service and which, if violated, directly impact the image and credibility of state institutions.
Territorial jurisdiction
The Military Court of Naples and its Public Prosecutor's Office exercise jurisdiction over military crimes committed in the regions of Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily.
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Comments (2)
The trial was long and complicated, with extensive evidence presented, but in the end the court ruled this way. It's important to know that justice must always be done the right way.
It was a verdict that surprised many. I don't know if it was right or wrong, but the two officers were acquitted. Many people expected a different outcome, especially given the seriousness of the charges.