Three years of imprisonment were requested by prosecutor Rossella Salvati on Wednesday, November 4
Three Years Sought for Defendants in Turin Court Over Unstarted Renovation Fraud
Three years of imprisonment were requested by prosecutor Rossella Salvati on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, before the court in Turin for two defendants accused of taking advantage of an elementary school teacher’s psychological vulnerabilities to secure a 70,000-euro mortgage, as Eventi News reported. The case centers on an unexecuted renovation project in Moncalieri where funds were disbursed to an artisan without construction ever beginning.
The investigation, originally triggered by a social services report, details events dating back to 2021. The man allegedly suggested she hire an acquaintance—an artisan—to renovate an apartment, prompting the teacher to take out the 70,000-euro loan. Part of these funds allegedly went toward purchasing an automobile, while other sums were transferred directly to the artisan without any corresponding building work.
Defense Lawyers Deny Exploitation Charges
The defense teams for both accused individuals have rejected the charges of taking advantage of a vulnerable person. Attorney Andrea Giordana, representing the homeless defendant, argued that his client suffers from a pathology similar to that attributed to the teacher and lacked the capacity to orchestrate a scheme, denying that any money was received. Similarly, attorney Basilio Foti, representing the artisan, maintained that his client had no time or means to assess the client’s health conditions, framing the situation as a failure to honor contract agreements rather than a criminal swindle.
The court proceedings also highlighted an unresolved mystery regarding a third individual known only as Gino. Witnesses testified that this man actively participated in managing the banking procedures through which the teacher obtained her loan. Despite inquiries during the trial spanning over a year, authorities have never established his true identity.
Judges Weigh Bank Movements Against Defense Arguments
While the prosecution contends that the loan and subsequent capital transfers constituted illicit exploitation, the defense maintains that standard commercial disputes should not be conflated with criminal wrongdoing.
Judges in Turin must now determine whether the defendants possessed awareness of the teacher’s condition when directing the financial transactions. The proceedings continue as the court weighs the documented bank movements and witness testimonies against the arguments presented by the defense.