After four postponements, the Brazilian court’s request for the former deputy (PL-SP) to be extradited began to be judged this Wednesday (11) by the Court of Appeal in Rome, in . After around five hours, the panel of three judges interrupted the hearing and scheduled the continuation for this Thursday (12).
This trial will result in the first decision of the Italian Court on extradition. Afterwards, both parties will be able to appeal to the Court of Cassation, the last instance. The final say will rest with the Italian government, through the Ministry of Justice.
This Wednesday, the first to speak out was the Italian Public Ministry, which in October had already declared itself in favor of extradition. The Prosecutor’s Office argues that all legal requirements exist for Zambelli to be sent to Brazil.
Brazil’s representative in the case, lawyer Alessandro Gentiloni, and Zambelli’s defense still have to speak. She personally attended the session.
The former deputy has been imprisoned for six months in the Rebibbia penitentiary, in Rome. She claims to be a victim of political persecution by the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and fled Brazil at the beginning of June, after being sentenced to ten years in prison for the invasion of the CNJ (National Council of Justice) system and the issuing of a false arrest warrant against STF minister Alexandre de Moraes.
This Tuesday (10), Zambelli was denied the request to analyze the case, considered “hostile” by her.
