InfoHub Logo

An Italian police officer, a carabiniere, has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, suspended, for failing to properly document three found wallets. While the officer's intention was reportedly to streamline administrative procedures, the oversight led to significant legal consequences.

Initial Charges and Verdict

Initially, the carabiniere faced accusations of embezzlement, official forgery, and dereliction of duty. The prosecution sought a sentence of 2 years and 10 months. However, the court ultimately ruled for a suspended sentence of 1 year and 8 months. The court confirmed one instance of misappropriation, while the other two cases were reclassified as simple theft of wallets.

Circumstances of the Case

The incident unfolded in late 2022. The first case occurred on November 24th when a citizen brought a found wallet to the carabiniere on duty. According to the defense, the officer asked the citizen to wait for the report to be filed, but the citizen left. The wallet remained with the officer. The following day, after his commander requested an explanation, the carabiniere submitted the wallet. Records indicate that nothing inside the wallet was missing. Nevertheless, the procedural breach initiated an investigation.

Further Discoveries

Following this incident, searches were conducted at the carabiniere's workplace and residence. During the search of his home, two additional wallets were discovered. One was found near a gas station on November 21, 2022, and the other on December 1, 2022, along the route of a citizen heading to a gym. According to case materials, nothing was missing from these wallets either.

Defense Arguments

The defense, represented by lawyer Laura Preziosi, argued that the officer's actions were not aimed at personal gain but rather an attempt to circumvent bureaucratic procedures. The defense claimed the carabiniere temporarily held the wallets to find their owners and avoid complex paperwork. The court partially accepted this argument, downgrading two of the charges from misappropriation to simple theft. The primary issue for the court remained the officer's failure to adhere to proper procedures. Despite no items being taken from the wallets, the absence of an official report was a decisive factor.

"The requirements for registering such cases are particularly strict for police officers," the publication stated. The carabiniere's defense team plans to appeal the verdict.

This information was reported by Infohub.kz.