Schettino's ex-lover says helicopter took mysterious Concordia object

(ANSA) - Florence, October 1 - The former lover of Francesco Schettino said on Italian television Wednesday that a helicopter swooped near the Costa Concordia cruiser and flew off with "an object" on the night of the January 2012 disaster.
    "I didn't see it personally but I was told about it by the person who had direct contact with the helicopter," Domnica Cemortan told Mediaset television Cemortan said the helicopter took large object when it landed at Giglio Island and that her information came from a Costa Cruises officer.
    Cemortan's statements came two days after her ultimatum demanding Schettino tell the truth about the crucial minutes before the giant Costa Concordia cruise ship went down, killing 32 in Italy's worst postwar maritime disaster.
    The Moldovan dancer, who was present in the Concordia command center shortly before it crashed into Giglio Island and partially capsized, gave Schettino an ultimatum to tell the whole truth or else, Oggi.it website reported Monday.
    "Francesco Schettino I give you six days to tell the truth about what happened immediately after you gave the command to abandon ship. Just six days!" Cemortan, who admitted to investigators that she was having an affair with Schettino at the time, wrote on her Facebook page.
    She threatened to "tell all" unless Schettino "came clean".
    The crash took place late on January 13, 2012.
    In addition to the 32 people who lost their lives, hundreds were injured and the disaster caused massive economic damage for Costa Cruises and the residents of Giglio, which is a popular tourist destination.
    First officer Ciro Ambrosio, who plea-bargained a sentence of one year and 11 months for multiple manslaughter, testified late last year that Schettino was "distracted" by a telephone call and a woman in the moments leading up to the crash.
    The captain is on trial for multiple manslaughter and dereliction of duty, and could face up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty.
    Dubbed "Captain Coward" by the media for allegedly abandoning ship without overseeing the evacuation, Schettino claims his image and actions have been distorted by investigators.