Italian consumers association Codacons said Thursday that it has presented a petition to criminal prosecutors over the case of a pensioner who committed suicide after losing his life savings which he invested in one of four banks saved by a government rescue package. The 68-year-old from the port of Civitavecchia hung himself at his home after reportedly losing over 100,000 euros he had invested in bonds in Banca Etruria.
The troubled lender was rescued via a government decree in November along with Banca delle Marche, the Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia di Chieti and the Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara.
The measure sees Italy's healthy banks investing some 3.6 billion euros to keep alive the four small banks, whose bad loans will go into a bad bank. Those holding bonds and shares in the four banks have seen their investments evaporate.
Premier Matteo Renzi's government has promised to pass a "humanitarian" measure to reduce the losses of small investors involved.
Codacons said Thursday that it has asked prosecutors to investigate the alleged crime of instigation to commit suicide.
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