NGOs - New allegations of "criminal association" from prosecutor in Catania

Prosecutor Zuccaro in Catania warns of much serious offenses than that of 'Iuventa' case in Trapani.

Il Giornale

By  Franco Grilli

13 August 2017

A second investigation may overwhelm the NGOs. This time it comes from the Prosecutor's Office in Catania and deals with the case followed by the Prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro who first reported the alleged liaison between migrant traffickers and the NGOs. The Catania investigation brings to light new allegations of "criminal association" aimed at favoring a clandestine immigration. The investigation shows that some NGO members were involved not only in direct contact with the traffickers but in addition shared some strategies with them for rescues and migrant transfer. Here is the substantial difference between the two investigations. The Trapani Prosecutor's Office is investigating only the individual conduct of some NGO crew members without advancing into the possibility of a common act. The investigation and collected evidence in Catania concerning traffickers and NGOs is far more in-depth and alleges not only sporadic contact activity but a likely organized liaison between rescue crews and the traffickers. In fact, the allegedly committed crime as suggested by the Prosecutor's Office in Catania is far more serious than the accusations coming from Trapani.

The scenario of the investigation could therefore rapidly change and give almost a face of "common act" to liaisons and contacts between NGOs and human traffickers.

Catania Public Prosecutor's Office
Dott. Carmelo Zuccaro
Piazza Giovanni Verga
95100 - Catania (CT)
Tel: 095/366111
Email: procura.catania@giustizia.it

(Originally published in Italian)

Source: "Catania - Other accusations against NGOs: it's a criminal association" / "Catania, altra accusa sulle Ong: È associazione a delinquere".  http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/catania-altra-accusa-sulle-ong-associazione-delinquere-1430615.html