The extradition of the deputy (-SP) will be judged in Italy on November 27th. The hearing will be at the Court of Appeal in Rome, which has been responsible for the case since it was founded, at the end of July. It will be the first decision by the Italian Court on Brazil’s request for the congresswoman to be sent to the country.
At the decisive hearing, scheduled for 1 pm local time (9 am in Brasília), the representative of the Public Ministry will be the first to speak, followed by the representative of Brazil and the defense. Zambelli can speak if he wants. The decision will be made by the court’s judges, who must communicate it in the days following the hearing.
The Italian Public Ministry has already declared itself, in a document sent to the court in October, in favor of extradition to Brazil, as requested by the Brazilian government. The body argues that all legal requirements for extradition exist, without any impeding reasons.
According to the treaty between Brazil and Italy on the subject, among the requirements, the crimes for which the person is convicted must be punishable in both countries with a custodial sentence. Another point is that only a person who has had the minimum defense rights guaranteed in their country of origin can be extradited.
Lawyer Pieremilio Sammarco, who defends Zambelli in Italy, indicated that he intends to reinforce the line that the congresswoman is a victim of political persecution.
After the Court of Appeal’s decision, both parties can appeal. The final say on extradition will rest with the Italian government, through the Ministry of Justice.
Zambelli fled the country in June to escape the invasion of the CNJ (National Council of Justice) system and the issuance of a false arrest warrant against STF (Supreme Federal Court) minister Alexandre de Moraes.
When she was already in Italy, she was sentenced to another five years and illegal restraint. The two cases make up a single extradition process.
Before arriving in the European country, Zambelli, who has dual citizenship, said that the Italian passport would make her “untouchable” and prevent her from being sent back to the country.
Since being arrested, she has had two unfavorable decisions in the Italian courts. The Court of Appeal rejected the defense’s request that she await the extradition process under house arrest or freedom. The court assessed that there was a risk of flight. In October, the Court of Cassation, the last instance, denied the appeal and kept Zambelli in the Rebibbia penitentiary system, in Rome.
