An Italian court sentenced the former executives of Italy's highway service company and dozens of co-defendants over the bridge collapse in Genoa eight years ago, which killed 43 people.
Foreign news agencies reported on 16 Jul 2026 GMT+7 that Giovanni Castellucci, former executive of Autostrade per l'Italia (Aspi), Italy's highway service company, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the Morandi Bridge collapse in Genoa in August 2018.
The disaster occurred during the tourist season amid a rainstorm, causing the highway bridge crossing the city to collapse, dropping cars and trucks below and resulting in 43 deaths.
Castellucci, who is already serving a 6-year sentence for a 2013 road accident, was one of 57 defendants tried in Genoa, with key verdicts as follows.
Michele Donferri Mitelli, another former senior official of the highway company, was sentenced to 11 years, while Paolo Berti, the company's former second-highest executive, received 5 and a half years despite prosecutors requesting 7 years.
Antonino Galata, former CEO of Spea (maintenance company), was sentenced to 5 and a half years, and Mauro Coletta, former senior official overseeing the Ministry of Transport's highway department, received 5 years.
Several other defendants received sentences just under two years, while 25 were acquitted or cleared due to the statute of limitations.
Prosecutors accused the defendants of repeatedly delaying maintenance on the aging bridge structure and neglecting warning signs prior to the accident.
Defense lawyers argued the tragedy was caused by inherent design flaws from the start, noting the bridge opened in 1967 and some cables were encased in concrete, creating structural weaknesses.
Families of victims expressed satisfaction with the verdicts. Emmanuel Diaz, who lost his brother, told Italian TV he was “very satisfied” with the ruling, while Egle Possetti, who lost her sister and family members, considered Castellucci’s 12-year sentence “acceptable.”
Cesare, 18, who lost his father, called the first public apology from current Aspi chairman Arrigo Giana “crocodile tears,” adding that these people lacked both empathy and humanity.
. International news coverage:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
. Source:bbc