Italy's Supreme Court orders new appeal in Shalabayeva case

The First Criminal Section of the Italian Court of Cassation has ordered a third appeal process for five police officers involved in the Shalabayeva case. The new proceedings will focus on the charge of kidnapping the daughter of Alma Shalabayeva, while the charge regarding the kidnapping of the woman herself has reached the statute of limitations.

The request for a new appeal follows a decision by the General Prosecutor's Office, which disagreed with a previous second-instance ruling that had sentenced all defendants to four years in prison. The prosecution has distinguished between the involvement of the Rome Mobile Squad and the Immigration Office, arguing that criminal conspiracy between the two units may not exist.

For former Mobile Squad chief Renato Cortese and officers Francesco Stampacchia and Luca Armeni, the prosecution requested a new appeal specifically regarding the kidnapping charge of the daughter, citing a lack of evidence for intent. For former Immigration Office head Maurizio Improta and officer Vincenzo Tramma, the request focuses on mitigating circumstances, as the prosecution maintains that intent was present.