Italy's Court of Cassation upholds 20-year sentence for Cutro shipwreck

Italy’s Court of Cassation has upheld a 20-year prison sentence for Syrian national Abdessalem Mohamed, holding him responsible for the shipwreck of the vessel ‘Summer Love’ on February 26, 2023. The disaster occurred off the coast of Steccato di Cutro in Calabria, resulting in the deaths of 94 migrants.

The Supreme Court rejected all appeals from the defense, which had sought to annul the previous ruling from the Court of Appeal of Catanzaro. Defense lawyers argued that Mohamed was not the commander or an organizer of the journey from Turkey, but was merely hired to perform minor engine repairs. They also contended that he was not at the helm during the impact and requested investigation into potential delays in military rescue efforts.

In addition to the prison term, the court confirmed a fine of 3 million euros. The vessel had departed Turkey carrying approximately 200 people, primarily from Afghanistan, but also including individuals from Pakistan, Syria, and Iran.