Italy: NGO accused of being paid to rescue migrants
The 27 migrants were finally allowed to disembark in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo (illustration).
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Italian justice is investigating the Italian NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans, accused of having received money from the Danish shipowner Moeller-Maerks to collect 27 migrants rescued by one of its cargo ships.
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The case dates back to September 12.
That day, the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans picked up on its boat 27 migrants rescued 38 days earlier by the cargo ship
Maerks Etienne
and stranded on board due to the refusal of Malta and Italy to welcome them.
They are finally authorized by the Italian government to disembark at the port of Pozzallo, in the province of Ragusa (Sicily).
But according to the Ragusa prosecutor's office, the Danish shipping giant Moeller-Maerks, owner of the cargo ship, would have paid 125,000 euros to the company Idra, which oversees Mediterranea.
Still according to the Ragusa prosecutor's office, the NGO would have demanded this sum before recovering the migrants.
The NGO Mediterranea affirms that the accusations are unfounded, reports our correspondent in Rome,
Anne Le Nir
.
For his part, Moeller-Maersk said he had not yet been contacted by the Italian authorities as part of the ongoing investigation.
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International Migration
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