Release of sexual assailant of 13-year-old in Turin: PD, IV and FN question Minister Nordio
A Turin magistrate has released a 42-year-old Bengali man accused of sexual assault on a thirteen-year-old. Politicians from various political factions announce parliamentary questions to Minister Nordio.
Turin, accused of assault on minor released: cross-party outrage in Parliament
Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca reports that condemnation of the Turin magistrate's decision to release the man accused of sexual assault against a thirteen-year-old is nearly unanimous across the Italian political landscape. For the 42-year-old, a Bengali national with no criminal record who claims to have repented, the magistrate ordered a signature requirement. Reactions have come from different political factions and converge on one point: a demand for clarification from Justice Minister Carlo Nordio.
"It is surreal, shameful. Unacceptable," declares Senator Raffaella Paita, Senate group leader of Italia Viva-Casa Riformista. "I wonder what must happen for someone who commits such heinous crimes to be placed in a position where they cannot victimise others." Paita announces a parliamentary question to Minister Nordio.
In the same vein are the Democratic Party parliamentarians from the Femicide Commission — Cecilia D'Elia, Sara Ferrari, Filippo Sensi, Valeria Valente, Antonella Forattini and Valentina Ghio — who nevertheless call for caution: "If the press reports were confirmed, we would be facing a very serious case."
At the centre of Democratic Party criticism is the reference to "contrition" attributed to the suspect's behaviour. "The social dangerousness of a repeat offender has nothing to do with repentance," say Democratic Party parliamentarians, adding: "Sexual violence against a minor under 14 years old is serious and concerning." According to what emerged from images from the mini-market's surveillance system, the man had harassed an adult woman shortly before abusing the teenager, who had entered the shop to buy fruit juices for her younger siblings. The Democrats in turn announce a parliamentary question to Minister Nordio, raising "the risk of an underestimation of the danger that women face".
Futuro Nazionale takes an even harder position. Deputies Rossano Sasso and Emanuele Pozzolo describe the reasoning behind the ruling as "appalling" and contest the weight given to the suspect's repentance. "From today, then, a new legal institution must be contemplated in the field of law: that of the apology. Rapists, drug dealers, thieves and criminals of every kind, apologise and you will be spared from prison," they state. The group defines the decision as "unacceptable" and "the product of an ideological drift that has permeated various sectors of society, including the judiciary." Futuro Nazionale announces a question to Minister Nordio and calls for tougher measures on the security front: "What is needed is a firm response from the State and a decree-law on remigration," the deputies conclude.
Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca