Italian surveillance magistrates have
released for health reasons amid the coronavirus emergency a
total of 498 prisoners incarcerated under the harsh '41 bis'
regime for mafiosi or otherwise in high security, Justice
Minister Alfonso Bonafede said Thursday.
Of these, 253 awaiting judgement are now under house arrest,
195 are in residential detention, and 35 have been entrusted to
social services, he said.
The mass release of mafia bosses has spurred protests from
inside and outside government and the executive and Bonafede
have issued a decree aimed at bringing many of them back to
jail, while stressing that the judiciary remains independent.
The centre-right opposition has filed a no-confidence motion
in Bonafede.
Bonafede added that 110 prisoners were positive for the
virus, three hospitalised, and 98 had recovered from it.
He said 204 prison staff were currently positive.
On March 2 the prison population was 61,235, and on May 12 it
had dropped to 53,524, mainly because of a drop in entries.
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