Berardi freed from E. Guinea prison

(ANSA) - Rome, July 14 - Italian entrepreneur Roberto Berardi has been freed from prison in Equatorial Guinea after two years and six months' detention, his wife, Rossella, and Democratic Party (PD) Senator Luigi Manconi made known Tuesday. Berardi was freed from Bata penitentiary on July 9. "We had to be sure he was on a plane home before announcing it," said Manconi, who sits chairs the Senate human rights committee.
    "This story only has a happy ending because of Berardi himself, who withstood torture and abuse". "I feared Roberto would never make it out alive from that prison," said wife Rossella.
    Berardi, who set up a construction company in Equatorial Guinea in 2011, was arrested in January 2013 on suspicion of misappropriation and tax fraud and convicted the following August, when he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
    Serious concerns have been expressed for his safety amid reports of alleged torture, prolonged detention in solitary confinement and poor health.