A media report said that an Italian judge ordered on Monday six police officers and coastguards to face trial for mishandling of operations during the 2023 migrant shipwreck near Cutro, which killed over 90 people.

A wooden sailboat, which had set off from Turkey, smashed into rocks near a beach in southern Calabria. It was one of the most deadly accidents in Italian history.

According to Ansa, the officials - two from the Coastguard and four from Guardia di Finanza - have been charged with manslaughter in multiple cases related to negligence which may have contributed towards the shipwreck.

According to Italian law, after completing their investigation, prosecutors must ask the judge if a formal court trial should be held for the suspects. Ansa reported that the trial will begin in January.

Matteo Salvini reacted angrily to the decision of ordering the trial of six suspects. He is the leader of anti-immigrant League and the deputy prime minister of Giorgia Melons right-wing coalition government.

"A single word: SHAME. Six officials, who risk their own lives each day to save others, should be put on trial. "SHAME," Salvini wrote in his X account.

Three people were convicted in late last year in a separate case connected to the Cutro Case of aiding and abetining illegal immigration, causing death to the migrants, and sentenced to prison terms of up to 16-years. (Reporting and editing by Leslie Adler; Angelo Amante)

(source: Reuters)