However, an acquittal seemed certain for him. The courts decided somewhat differently. Domenico Lucano, former mayor of Riace, a village in Calabria in southern Italy, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for “criminal association, abuse of power, extortion and embezzlement”. He must also repay the sum of 500,000 euros paid by the European Union and the Italian government. As reported by franceinfo on Thursday September 30, Domenico Lucano was accused of organising marriages of convenience. His aim: to allow foreign women who are to be deported to stay in Italy. He was also accused of passing on funds intended for the village’s waste management to associations for migrants, reports franceinfo. The conviction was a major setback for the former mayor of Riace. This was despite the fact that the court had originally demanded eight years in prison. Domenico Lucano said he was ” devastated”: “Today I am dead inside. I am speechless. I did not expect this verdict.
The secretary of the Democratic Party (PD), Enrico Letta, lamented shortly after the verdict that the conviction was “terrible” as it might “reinforce the mistrust against justice in our country”. In contrast, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini judged on his Twitter account that “Calabria does not deserve to have crooks and friends of illegal immigrants”. Domenico Lucano had been arrested in autumn 2018, reporters can remember. He was subsequently placed under surveillance in his accommodation.