Matteo Salvini’s trial began in Palermo. The Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses the former Italian interior minister of misconduct and kidnapping.
Salvini as a member of the government summer 2019 for nearly three weeks Illegal immigrants arriving near Sicily were not allowed to land on a Spanish ship. As a minister, he has repeatedly halted the docking of ships carrying migrants and demanded that the European Union ease the burden on Italy.
There were 147 people on board the Spanish NGO Open Arms ship involved in the lawsuit, and they were arrested near Libya. Several people threw themselves into the water in despair when the captain requested that the ship crash into a nearby safe port.
During the waiting period, many people were taken ashore for humanitarian or health reasons, and eventually the 83 migrants left on board were allowed to land in Lampedusa.
Oscar Camps, the leader of the Open Arms, said they are waiting for justice for the unnecessary suffering people on board suffered in those 20 days.
U.S. Representative Richard Gere, who requested permission to dock their ships while receiving a bribe, will also be heard as a witness at the trial. They also summoned former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The lawsuit will be appealed on December 17. The court can impose a prison sentence of up to 15 years on Salvini if he is found guilty.
(MTI)
