«In Italian prisons they welcomed me like a king». This is said by Chico Forti, the Italian extradited from the United States after serving 24 years and who is now in the Verona institute.

In Rebibbia, where he remained for a short time after his return, he explained to the program "Cinque Minuti", "they told me: 'There is the commander who wants to speak to you'". I thought he was a penitentiary officer but instead the first one who introduced himself to me was Schettino (the former commander of the Costa Concordia, ed.), who told me: "Chico, you are my hero".

«There is a huge difference between the prison in Miami and that in Verona. Miami is based on punishment and is a place where you are continually humiliated, while here I learned about human values such as relationships and respect, which I hadn't found for 24 years", added Forti, who, speaking of his 96-year-old mother, underlined : «She is my rock, she has been my strength and energy. In his eyes you can see the fireworks and the joy in his gaze. In 2008, the last time I saw her before returning to Italy, she told me "I will do everything I can to wait for you".

Chico Forti, who has always said he was not guilty of the crime of murder for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in Florida, explained: «If you are convinced of your innocence, you have the strength to carry on day by day. I never thought about 24 years, but about the next day. If you don't believe in yourself, you either commit suicide or change your life." And on his future he added: "I have been frozen for 24 years, but my will to live has not changed." Finally, talking about the day he learned that he would return to Italy: «On March 1st I received a call that upset my penitentiary, because they told me I had a call from the White House. The first person who spoke to me was the Italian ambassador in Washington who told me that she was with Biden and the Italian prime minister. Then I spoke to Giorgia Meloni, who told me: "We have finally managed to convince him, go home".

(Unioneonline/ss)

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