Case of Italian citizen Maurizio Trotta, imprisoned in Romania

24.9.2003

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2919/03
by Marco Cappato (NI) and Maurizio Turco (NI)
to the Commission

On 2 August 2002, Mr Maurizio Trotta, an Italian citizen from Reggio Emiliano, was arrested in Romania on charges of international drugs trafficking for possession of 11 grammes of hashish, found in his rented apartment in Craiova.

 

Mr Maurizio, who has been held in Craiova prison since his arrest, was tried in a court of first instance and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, following the withdrawal of the charge of international trafficking, which is punishable by up to 25 years' imprisonment.

 

Having received a two-year sentence, and in the light of his good conduct, Mr Trotta ought to be released in December 2003. However, following an appeal against the sentence of the court of first instance lodged by the public prosecutor's office, the case is to be re-tried, with the result that the outcome is highly uncertain and Mr Trotta is still in prison.

 

In the meantime, Mr Trotta's family has spent substantial sums on visiting Romania and on the fees of Italian lawyer Mr Liborio Catagliotti and the succession of Romanian lawyers assigned to the case.

 

There is no knowing how long the case will last or what the eventual sentence will be and there have been reports of substantial bribes being requested by those seeking to take advantage of the situation.

 

After making the necessary enquiries with the Romanian authorities, will the Commission say whether it considers that the fundamental rights established under the EU treaties may have been infringed in this case?

 

Will the Commission provide details of the response from the Romanian authorities and say what possible steps might be taken?