Italy's National Magistrates
Association (ANM) union on Tuesday defended Bari prosecutor who
came under fire after she released an Indian man who was
arrested after he tried to kidnap a five-year-old girl off a
beach.
Indian national Ram Lubhaya, 43, on August 17 tried to
abscond with the little girl on a beach near the Sicilian city
while her parents were momentarily distracted. The parents
chased him down, and had to fight with him to get him to let go
of their child.
The man fled, but was arrested an hour later based on
eyewitness descriptions.
Prosecutor Giulia Bisello ordered the man - who has a
criminal record, no residency permit, and currently makes a
living giving henna tattoos on the beach where he also sometimes
spends the night - released without questioning.
It later emerged a deportation order against him expired
yesterday at midnight.
He is currently being investigated for child abduction and
attempted kidnapping.
Bisello's release of the suspect, while by the book because
Italian law says attempted kidnapping is a non-custodial
offence, sparked an uproar.
The ANM has called these "unacceptable attacks", while a
subset of the ANM called Independent Magistrature (MI) expressed
"solidarity" with their colleague.
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