Vittorio Sgarbi acquitted in Rome –

The preliminary hearing judge of Rome has ordered a dismissal of proceedings against the former Undersecretary of Culture Vittorio Sgarbi and his partner Sabrina Colle in the context of the investigation into an alleged failure to pay debts to the Revenue Agency for a total of approximately 715 thousand euros.

The judge acquitted Sgarbi with the formula “because the fact does not exist”. The Rome prosecutor’s office had requested the indictment of the critic, defended by lawyers Giampaolo Cicconi and Manuel Varesi, and of Colle, defended by lawyer Giuseppe Iannaccone. The dispute was related to article 11 of the law on tax crimes on fraudulent evasion of tax payments. The case dates back to October 2020 and also concerned the purchase at auction of a painting in which Sgarbi’s partner was listed as the buyer.