A city court on Monday sentenced
former Olivetti chief Carlo De Benedetti to five years two
months in prison over 12 asbestos-related deaths at the
company's Ivrea plant near Turin.
The workers, who did jobs ranging from assembling
typewriters and machine maintenance to painting, died after
their retirements between 2003 and early 2013, had been employed
between the 1960s and 1990s in areas of the plant that were
allegedly contaminated with asbestos fibers.
They were subsequently diagnosed with illnesses including
mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos.
The prosecution had requested six years and eight months
for manslaughter and personal injury.
Trial Judge Elena Stoppini - who in May ordered a review of
medical samples from the 12 victims - also sentenced Franco
Debenedetti to five years two months (six years and four months
requested) and ex-minister Corrado Passera to one year 11 months
(three years and six months requested).
Passera served as Italy's transport and industry
minister from 2011 to 2013 in the emergency technocrat
government of ex-premier Mario Monti.
The judge handed down a total of 13 sentences, of which
three acquittals including that of former Alitalia president and
erstwhile Olivetti CEO Roberto Colannino, who was on trial for
one count of culpable injury.
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