The dispute over Roggero Jewelry reaches the Supervisory Court
While the defense is calling for the suspension of detention, the Judges' Association warns against threats against the magistrates
Turin – The case of imprisoned jeweler Mario Roggero remains a political issue. The 72-year-old from Grinzane Cavour shot and killed two fleeing suspects during a robbery in 2021 and was subsequently sentenced to 14 years and nine months in prison, a verdict that has become final. Now, the Supervisory Court is set to decide whether the sentence will be suspended—and the case continues to divide the judiciary and the political sphere.
The Court of Cassation had upheld the conviction in mid-July; a few days later, Roggero began serving his sentence at the Bollate prison near Milan. His defense team immediately filed a motion to stay the execution of the sentence, in conjunction with a previously submitted petition for clemency. A legal tug-of-war ensued over jurisdiction: The Milan Supervisory Court declared that it lacked jurisdiction and returned the case files to Turin, since the request had been filed while Roggero was still at liberty. The decision now rests with Turin.
The defense is urging that enforcement be suspended until a decision is made on the petition for clemency. The Quirinal Palace issued a strong clarification that the power to grant clemency lies solely with the president—an institutional demarcation intended to ease political pressure on the issue.
At the same time, a warning issued by the Judges’ Association caused a stir. Its leadership demonstratively rallied behind their Piedmontese colleagues who had handed down the rulings in the first and second instances. Threats against them were mounting; an unbearable climate of delegitimization was threatening to turn into hatred and intimidation, a situation that was also being fueled on social media. The association called on public officials to take on more responsibility.
The mood had also been fueled recently by developments abroad: A Public attack by entrepreneur Elon Musk The involvement of an Italian judge had added an international dimension to the case. Meanwhile, leading government officials are calling for leniency for the jeweler. Roggero himself remains in custody for the time being while the investigation is underway in Turin.
