Overview
- The preliminary hearing judge, Ilaria Rosati, acquitted Marcello Minenna with the formula that the alleged offense "does not exist."
- Sergio Covato, a Ravenna prefecture official, and Gianluca Prati, then head of the AUSL Romagna central warehouse, were also acquitted in the same proceeding.
- Prosecutor Laura Brunelli had sought sentences of 2 years and 4 months for Minenna, 2 years for Covato, and 1 year for Prati.
- The case stemmed from a spring 2020 supply of masks to AUSL Romagna worth about €3.5–3.6 million, which investigators alleged were noncompliant and supported by falsified import documents.
- Former Lega deputy Gianluca Pini, involved in the same investigation, previously reached a plea deal of 23 months, while Minenna’s 2023 house arrest was swiftly annulled by the Bologna review court.