Richard Gere will also testify in the trial of former Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, accused of kidnapping and omission of official acts for having prohibited the disembarkation of 147 migrants rescued by the Spanish ship Open Arms.
This was decided by the court of Palermo, which admitted all the witnesses cited by the parties. The Hollywood star had been called to testify by the NGO, the prosecutor had asked not to admit it but the judges decided that he too will parade on the witness stand.
Among the witnesses also ministers and former ministers: the former premier Giuseppe Conte, the then vice-premier Di Maio, the former transport and defense ministers Danilo Toninelli and Elisabetta Trenta, the current owner of the Interior Ministry Luciana Lamorgese. Also mentioned are the former Maltese premier Muscat and the former director of the Aise.
The trial, which opened today in the bunker hall of the Pagliarelli prison in Palermo, was postponed to December 17 for the examination of the first three witnesses of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Salvini, present at the hearing, commented: “I hope the trial does not turn into a film festival. I think I am the only minister in Europe who goes to trial for having done his duty ”.
"Tell me how serious is a trial where Richard Gere will come from Hollywood to testify about my wickedness", urges the Northern League. “I hope it lasts as short as possible because there are more important things to take care of. I am sorry for only two things, for the time I take away from my children and for the money that Italians spend on this political process organized by the left ".
(Unioneonline / L)