Those who commit crimes cannot be compensated says Meloni

Those who commit crimes cannot be

compensated, Premier Giorgia Meloni said Friday apparently

referring to the millions of euros jeweler Mario Roggero has

been sentenced to paying the families of two fleeing robbers he

shot dead in 2021.

Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party and other

right-wing parties have been pushing for a pardon for Roggero,

72, whose prison term of 14 years and nine months was upheld by

the supreme court on Wednesday, making the verdict definitive.

They say he was acting in legitimate self-defence, even though

the robbers were fleeing after robbing his store near Cuneo in

Piedmont.

President Sergio Mattarella was forced to step in after Justice

Minister Carlo Nordio, a senior FdI member, started proceedings

for a pardon, with the head of State clarifying that pardons are

in his own remit only.

Right-wing League party leader Matteo Salvini has said he is

ready to offer Roggero a potential seat in parliament to give

him immunity from punishment.

Meloni said Friday that it was paradoxical that criminals like

the pair Roggero shot qualified for compensation.

"You attack me. I defend myself. And should I compensate you?

It's not fair. With the latest security bill, we are introducing

a rule of pure common sense: anyone who suffers harm while

committing a crime cannot claim compensation, nor can their

family members.

"Those who break the law cannot expect compensation from those

who defended themselves.

"The State is on the side of decent people. Not criminals."

Melkoni's X post also included a photo of the prime minister and

the caption, 'Enough paradoxes! Anyone who commits a crime

cannot claim compensation for the harm suffered while committing

a crime.'

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