Italy’s highest court has fully acquitted two prominent Milan prosecutors previously accused of withholding vital evidence in a massive corporate corruption case.
The Court of Cassation overturned a lower court ruling for Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro, declaring the offense non-existent.
Judges in Brescia had previously upheld an eight-month prison sentence, claiming the duo failed to file documents favoring the defense.
The underlying international legal battle involved the multi-billion-dollar acquisition of a Nigerian oilfield by energy titans Eni and Shell.
Both corporate defendants and their executives achieved full acquittal in March 2021, dissolving the industry’s largest bribery trial.
The controversial missing evidence centered on a video recorded by a former external lawyer, which judges deemed highly relevant.
Defense lawyers for the prosecutors expressed immense relief, stating that the definitive ruling finally brings justice after years of suffering.
Throughout the lengthy appeals process, Spadaro maintained that the prosecution team acted strictly according to conscience and Italian law.
The high-stakes investigation into the prosecutors’ conduct spanned five years, creating significant friction within the Italian judicial system.
This final verdict completely exonerates the veteran prosecutors, officially closing a tumultuous chapter in European corporate legal history.