Italian state pays man 109,000 euros for decade of unjust detention

Volunteers from the Italian organization Avvocato di strada Treviso secured 109,000 euros for a man who spent a year and a half in prison unjustly.

The Italian state finally paid the sum after the victim waited ten years to receive the funds following a ruling by the Corte d’Appello di Venezia in 2016. The delay occurred because of a clerical error in the transcription of the man's name.

Isabella Arena, the coordinator of Avvocato di strada Treviso, explained that the mistake could have been corrected with a simple request, but the victim remained unaware of the issue. Because the man lived on the streets, he lacked the documents and support needed to navigate the bureaucratic process alone. The organization, which provides free legal aid to people experiencing homelessness, identified the error and filed the necessary correction.

Antonio Mumolo, the president of the organization, stated that the case demonstrates how small administrative hurdles can become insurmountable obstacles for people in extreme poverty. The payment now allows the man to seek housing, documents, and employment.