An Italian court has acquitted former crew members of the migrant rescue vessel Aquarius, eight years after prosecutors in Sicily accused them of illicit waste trafficking, the charity SOS Mediterranee announced on Friday.
Background of the Case
The ship was seized in 2018 following a year-long investigation into the disposal of waste generated during rescue operations in the central Mediterranean. Prosecutors in Catania argued that items such as clothing belonging to rescued migrants, food waste, and medical refuse should have been classified as infectious sanitary waste, requiring special handling. They accused crew members and aid workers of illegally disposing of such waste to reduce costs, allegedly creating a public health risk in Italy between 2017 and 2018. Around 24 people were placed under investigation when the case was opened.
Response from Charities
SOS Mediterranee, which at the time operated in partnership with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), consistently denied wrongdoing. On Friday, it welcomed the acquittals, issued earlier this week, stating that all waste had been handled in accordance with regulations. In a separate statement, MSF expressed hope that the ruling would lead to an acquittal for other staff members facing a separate trial in Catania on similar charges related to another rescue boat, the Vos Prudence.
