Former Mayor Gianluca Festa Under House Arrest: Defense Challenges Evidence Prematurely

The defense of Gianluca Festa, the former mayor of Avellino who is under house arrest since this morning, has risen after the publication of the images contained in the precautionary custody order of the judge of preliminary investigation of the Court of Avellino, which was not yet available to the defendant or his defender. The criminal lawyer Luigi Petrillo emphasizes that the frames made public were attributed a value of proof of responsibility before Festa could offer the judge an alternative explanation to that supported by the Prosecution. Availability - Petrillo adds - that Festa has given since March 27 (the day after he resigned as mayor) and that, however, remained without response from the public prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Vincenzo Toscano. Regarding the theft of the computer, which according to the investigators happened a month and a half ago, Festa's defense maintains that 'the device, being quite old, could not contain any elements of investigative interest if only because it was protected by a password known to many'. On the allegations of corruption, in particular for having induced a businessman to make a contribution for Eurochocolate, 'it is the same Prosecution - Petrillo adds - to not suppose that Festa has made an economic profit for himself because, as he says in the wiretaps, he was only interested in the success of the event'. As for the competition for municipal police officer that Festa, along with two other defendants, would have rigged to make a candidate win who had been given the questions before the exam, the former mayor's defense insists: Festa was ready to explain but was not listened to by the Prosecution.