“I was informed last night by Undersecretary Giorgio Silli, currently on mission in the region, and by Ambassador Paolo Crudele that the Court of Appeal of Papua New Guinea has acquitted Italian national Carlo D’Attanasio and ordered his release,” declared the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, during a press briefing this morning at the Crisis Unit.
Mr D’Attanasio, who is seriously ill, is currently receiving treatment at a public hospital in the capital, Port Moresby. Following his arrest on 3 August 2020 as part of an anti-narcotics operation, Mr D’Attanasio was sentenced at first instance by the National Court of Port Moresby for money laundering, and in October 2024 was given a custodial sentence of 19 years.
Given the seriousness of his health condition, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, together with the Embassy of Italy in Canberra, have closely followed the case over time—consistently engaging with the local authorities to raise awareness of the need for humanitarian repatriation and providing the necessary consular assistance.