Key Witness Retracts Testimony in Nicole Minetti Case

A crucial witness in the case involving former Italian regional councilor Nicole Minetti has retracted her testimony, potentially altering the legal landscape surrounding her conviction.

Graciela Mabel De Los Santos, an Uruguayan masseuse who had previously provided statements to the Italian newspaper "Il Fatto Quotidiano" alleging escort activities and parties at a Punta del Este villa owned by Giuseppe Cipriani and frequented by Minetti, has now submitted a notarized document in Uruguay. In this sworn statement, she asserts that she never witnessed any incidents involving escorts or activities related to the charges for which Minetti was definitively convicted in Italy.

Minetti received a sentence of 3 years and 11 months for aiding and abetting prostitution and embezzlement in the Ruby bis trial. De Los Santos's new declaration, transmitted via Interpol to the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, contradicts her earlier accounts. These earlier statements had fueled significant political and media controversy, casting doubt on the basis for the presidential pardon granted to Minetti.

Despite the retraction, "Il Fatto Quotidiano" intends to publish chat logs and recordings of their conversations with De Los Santos, totaling over an hour and a half of audio and 766 messages, including photos and screenshots. The newspaper's director, Marco Travaglio, stated they would release the full chat records, suggesting they stand by their reporting and aim to counter the impact of the notarized statement.