The appeal sentence of the trial of three alleged smugglers of the gulet Summer Love which sank on 26 February 2023 in Steccato di Cutro, causing 94 deaths, will be issued on 21 December. This was decided by the Court of Appeal of Catanzaro at the conclusion of today’s hearing during which two defendants made spontaneous statements and then the defense lawyers spoke.
Khalid Arslan, 28 years old, and Hasab Hussain (24), both Pakistani, have declared themselves innocent and unrelated to the criminal organization. They are accused – together with the 53-year-old Turkish Sami Fuat – of aiding and abetting illegal immigration and of death as a consequence of another crime and have already been sentenced at first instance by the Court of Crotone. Their lawyers, in their oral arguments, described them as migrants like the others and not smugglers. «Regardless of formal questions on the declarations made by migrants – said the lawyer. Arturo Bova – it has emerged unequivocally that at least two positions, including that of Hasab Hussain who I represent, are extraneous. Unfortunately it was a process born badly and also managed under the emotional influence of one of the greatest tragedies that occurred at sea. However, everything was lumped together without distinguishing the position of those who were migrants and were not smugglers.” «It is an accusation that we considered unfair from the beginning – added Salvatore Perri, defender of Khalid Arslan – it failed to value the payment for my client’s trip like all the other migrants. The Court therefore postponed the hearing to 21 December 2026 for the replies and the sentence.