Salvini trial judges start deliberations in Open Arms case
Verdict not expected before late afternoon
The three judges in Palermo set to
rule in the trial in which Deputy Premier and Transport Minister
Matteo Salvini faces charges of abduction and refusal to perform
public acts have started deliberations.
A verdict is expected later on Friday after 6 pm, judicial
sources said.
The League leader is accused of illegitimately denying the
disembarkation of 147 migrants rescued by the vessel operated by
Spanish NGO Open Arms in August 2019, as part of his
controversial closed-ports policy when he was interior minister.
Prosecutors Marzia Sabella, Gery Ferrara and Giorgia Righi on
September 14 requested a six-year jail term for Salvini.
On Friday, Sabella told the court that Salvini had exceeded his
powers when he had stopped the migrants from landing at
Lampedusa on August 14-20, 2019, in spite of difficult
conditions aboard.
The State attorney said "no national security reasons" prevented
their disembarkation.
Civil plaintiffs in the case include NGOs and activists such as
Legambiente, Arci, AccoglieRete, Democratic Jurists, Ciss,
Mediterranea Saving Humans, Cittadinanza Attiva, Oscar Camps,
director of the NGO Open Arms, the vessel's skipper Reig Creus,
mission chief Anna Isabel Montes, the municipality of Barcelona,
medical charity Emergency and the Association of juridical
studies on immigration ASGI.
The legal representatives of civil plaintiffs have requested the
payment of one million euros in compensation.
The trial began on September 15 2021 and included 24 hearings
during which 45 witnesses were heard.
The leader of the League party is represented by attorney Giulia
Bongiorno who has requested her client's acquittal.
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