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The Case of Giovambattista De Sarro
Giovambattista De Sarro, former rector of the “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, has left house arrest after the Court of Review decided to replace the precautionary measure with a suspension from public office for a period of nine months. This measure comes after the “Grecale” operation, which brought to light an alleged illicit system within the university, involving 11 professors and researchers, as well as veterinarians from the Provincial Health Authority.
The serious accusations and the investigations
The investigations conducted by the Catanzaro Group of the Guardia di Finanza revealed accusations of criminal association, corruption, forgery and aggravated fraud against the State. In particular, the accusation highlighted practices of mistreatment and killing of animals, with particular reference to mice used as guinea pigs in scientific laboratories. These animals were allegedly subjected to torture, some of which were killed without anesthesia, in violation of current regulations.
Critical issues in laboratories and the illicit system
The hygienic and environmental conditions of the laboratories were described as critical, but the veterinarians in charge of the checks did not detect any irregularities. According to the investigations, there was a “proven illicit system” that steered the inspections to obtain certificates of regularity, thus avoiding the revocation of ministerial funding amounting to approximately two million euros. This scenario has raised questions about the transparency and ethics of research practices within the university.
De Sarro's defense and the contradictions in the investigations
De Sarro's lawyer, Maria Bonaddio, filed a motion with the Review Court, highlighting the lack of seriousness of the evidence and the lack of risk of tampering with the evidence. The defense also highlighted the contradictions in the investigation documents, which would call into question the charges brought against his client. The court's decision to annul the precautionary custody order has sparked a heated debate on the appropriateness of precautionary measures in cases of this type.