Mafia, law of defense suspended for medical transport association

Last Updated: December 2, 2023

The judges of the Cga have suspended the anti-mafia interdict issued by the prefecture of Palermo against the Croce Sana Odv association, which was not allowed to operate after Operation Fenice, as it was believed to be infiltrated by elements of the mafia of Misilmeri and Belmonte Mezzagno. Now, however, it will be able to resume the transport of patients. The Cga’s ordinance was issued by the panel chaired by Ermanno De Francisco, with Nino Caleca as rapporteur, and it accepts the appeal of Croce Sana due to the failure to respect the right of defense, since the prefect of Palermo who issued the interdict should have given “timely communication to the interested party”, as required by a 2021 law. The communication would have allowed the association to defend itself. In the first instance, the Administrative Court had ruled in favor of the Prefecture, but now the verdict has been overturned. “Having the right of defense being violated, the interdict has been deemed illegitimate and therefore suspended,” comment the lawyers of Croce Sana. The Cga has referred the case back to the Administrative Court, which, within a few months, must issue the verdict, the outcome of which is already known, in the sense indicated by the Cga. In the meantime, pending the Administrative Court ruling, Croce Sana will be able to immediately resume its activities, also coming to the aid of the employees’ work needs.