The government is working to bring
Italian inmate Chico Forti back to Italy as soon as possible,
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Saturday after Premier
Giorgia Meloni announced in Washington on Friday that an
agreement had been reached for him to return from the United
States to serve the rest of his term in his homeland.
Forti, 65, is in a maximum security jail in Florida after being
given a life sentence in 2000 for the murder of Australian
businessman Dale Pike in 1998.
Forti and his supporters say the conviction is unsound and he is
the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
"Chico Forti's return to Italy is an important, long-awaited
goal, achieved thanks to the authoritative personal efforts of
Premier Giorgia Meloni," Nordio said.
"My offices will work to comply with all the necessary technical
steps that are the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice in
the shortest possible time and which I discussed with Attorney
General, M. Garland during a visit to the Department of Justice
in Washington in November.
"We hope that all the other steps, which also involve the
judicial authorities, can also be completed as quickly as
possible to allow Forti to continue serving his sentence in his
country, close to his loved ones".
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