The Cassation Court, the last instance of the Italian justice, began to analyze on Wednesday (8) the appeal presented by the defense of the deputy (-SP) against his arrest in closed regime. After an audience in the morning, the judges’ decision is expected for the coming days.
Zambelli’s lawyers try to reverse the decision of the court of appeal, which determined, at the end of August, that the congressman awaits the process of extradition in closed regime. The court rejected a house arrest request because it understood that there was a high risk of escape and that its health was compatible with jail.
Zambelli was not present at this Wednesday’s audience. She has been detained since late July at the Rebibbia Penitentiary Complex in Rome after being found by police in an apartment on the outskirts of the city, after almost two months as a fugitive from Brazilian justice.
Its extradition process, requested by the Brazilian government, is being processed at the court of appeal – the theme was not discussed at this Wednesday’s hearing. The Court awaits the opinion of the Italian Attorney General on the case to mark a new hearing, in which the existence or not of requirements will be evaluated for Zambelli to be sent to Brazil.
Any resources will be analyzed then by the cassation court, but the final word will be up to the Italian government through the Ministry of Justice. The duration of the whole process is estimated between one and two years by experts, but the processing may be faster with Zambelli in prison.
The congressman fled to Italy in early June to escape the conviction of ten years in prison determined by the (Supreme Court). She was accused of participating in the invasion of the (National Council of Justice) system to issue a fake arrest warrant against Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court.
To avoid his extradition, lawyer Pieremilio Sammarco said he intends to demonstrate that Zambelli’s process in Brazil has anomalies, such as “the victim of the alleged crime was the same person who made the sentence, who decided to execute the sentence and decided the appeal,” said the lawyer. Zambelli says he is a victim of political persecution in Brazil.
