Rome, 6 Oct. (LaPresse) – A public hearing is being held today before the Constitutional Court on the conflict of jurisdiction brought by the Chamber of Deputies in the proceedings involving Giusi Bartolozzi, who is under investigation in Rome for statements she made during the inquiry into the Almasri case. The Constitutional Court will first have to determine whether parliamentary authorisation – as required for ministerial offences – was necessary in the case of the former chief of staff to the Minister of Justice. The appeal by the Chamber of Deputies, approved by the majority, concerns the Public Prosecutor’s decision to proceed without involving the Chamber. Bartolozzi is accused of providing allegedly false information to the magistrates in the investigation into the arrest of Osama Almasri, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court. In the report signed by Giorgio Mulè, the majority argues that the conduct attributed to the senior official is linked to that alleged against Minister Carlo Nordio, the Minister for the Interior Matteo Piantedosi and Under-Secretary Alfredo Mantovano. Bartolozzi, who at the time headed Nordio’s cabinet, is alleged to have made statements relating to the main case. Hence the request to extend to her as well the safeguards provided for in proceedings concerning members of the government. At the preliminary stage, the Constitutional Court recognised the Chamber’s standing to raise the conflict. The issue also concerns ‘non-ministerial suspects’—individuals outside the government but accused of an offence linked to that of a minister. The Constitutional Court has identified the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Court for Ministers as state authorities entitled to participate in the proceedings.
Almasri case: hearing today at the Constitutional Court on the admissibility of Bartolozzi’s case
Rome, 6 Oct. (LaPresse) – A public hearing is being held today before the Constitutional Court on the conflict of jurisdiction brought by the Chamber of Deputies in the proceedings involving Giusi Bartolozzi, who is under investigation in Rome for statements she made during the inquiry into the Almasri case. The Constitutional Court will first have to determine whether parliamentary authorisation – as required for ministerial offences – was necessary in the case of the former chief of staff to the Minister of Justice. The appeal by the Chamber of Deputies, approved by the majority, concerns the Public Prosecutor’s decision to proceed without involving the Chamber. Bartolozzi is accused of providing allegedly false information to the magistrates in the investigation into the arrest of Osama Almasri, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court. In the report signed by Giorgio Mulè, the majority argues that the conduct attributed to the senior official is linked to that alleged against Minister Carlo Nordio, the Minister for the Interior Matteo Piantedosi and Under-Secretary Alfredo Mantovano. Bartolozzi, who at the time headed Nordio’s cabinet, is alleged to have made statements relating to the main case. Hence the request to extend to her as well the safeguards provided for in proceedings concerning members of the government. At the preliminary stage, the Constitutional Court recognised the Chamber’s standing to raise the conflict. The issue also concerns ‘non-ministerial suspects’—individuals outside the government but accused of an offence linked to that of a minister. The Constitutional Court has identified the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Court for Ministers as state authorities entitled to participate in the proceedings.