Romanian Tourist Freed After Month-Long Wrongful Imprisonment in Italy

A Romanian tourist, Ovidiu A., has been released from an Italian prison after spending nearly a month incarcerated due to a case of mistaken identity. His lawyer confirmed his release on Thursday, ending what Ovidiu described as a “nightmare” that began on the first day of his Italian holiday.

Ovidiu, originally from Iasi, Romania, was arrested on August 24 in Caorle, near Venice. Police mistook him for a wanted criminal who shared his name and had been previously sentenced to two years in Italy for aggravated theft. The hotel registration triggered an alert, leading to his arrest by the carabinieri during his first breakfast.

His lawyer, Stefano De Rosa, faced challenges in proving the mistaken identity, as the original theft conviction dated back to 2014 with final sentencing in 2020. De Rosa highlighted the difficulties caused by disparate computer systems across police, prison, court, and carabinieri offices, requiring him to gather documentation from each.

Upon his release from Pordenone prison, Ovidiu was reunited with his family, who had been waiting since his arrest. Despite the ordeal, he plans to continue his holiday for a few more days to enjoy the beach, his initial goal. His lawyer noted the “enormous damage” caused but praised Ovidiu’s dignity and calm throughout the experience.

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