Ok of the Cabinet to the Alfano anti-release decree of Mafia bosses

Di Marco Cerasani il 19 febbraio | ore 15 : 41 PM

The decree proposed by the Attorney General Angelino Alfano to block the release of mafia bosses was enforced unanimously by the Cabinet. The preventive measure on 416 bis follows the recent sentence of Cassation that entrusts the Court of Assizes, and no longer to the Law Courts, judgment on the mafia bosses accused of acts having more than one set of aggravating circumstances.

Minister Alfano emphasised that with the decree he “reduces to zero the risk of so many processes and the feared release of prisoners belonging to a high lineage and having a criminal curriculum”. The minister specified that there were 388 procedures at risk and added: “We have studied the data and created a table – stated Alfano – from which it emerged that 243 are procedures pending at the Court of Appeal and the Law Courts; 4 of those related to the Solicitors Offices and 141 at the District Anti-Mafia Bureaus ”.

Moreover the government has extended the competences of the Courts of Assizes which will be able to deliberate on crimes of a terrorist nature, kidnapping, reduction to or maintenance in slavery, slave trade, drugs trafficking, etc.). One part of the reform of the criminal trial, presented in 2009 by the same Lord Chancellor, excluding Mafia crimes, is thus modified.

During the press conference at Palazzo Chigi Alfano, Angelino described the guidelines of the decree. “We have resolved a fault created not by the legislator but by those who interpreted the law”. This will empower the Courts to address Mafia crimes. Management of the crimes included in the article 416 bis is attributed to the Courts. And finally odification of the competences of the Courts of Assizes. “art.1 of this decree coincides with art. 1 first paragraph of the reform of the code of criminal procedure with the only exception of Mafia crimes”.

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