Milan court halts enforcement of Nicole Minetti's 3-year, 11-month sentence after presidential pardon
The Milan surveillance court formally acknowledged the February pardon granted by President Sergio Mattarella, ending the enforcement of a total 3-year, 11-month sentence for former Lombardy regional councillor Nicole Minetti.
Convictions and sentence
Nicole Minetti, a former regional councillor in Lombardy, received two final convictions. The "Ruby bis" trial yielded a 2-year, 10-month sentence for facilitating prostitution, while the "Pirellone expenses" case added one year and one month for embezzlement. The combined penalty reached 3 years and 11 months. She had been serving the sentence through probation at a Milan charity, but the legal process turned on the presidential clemency.
- Ruby bis (facilitating prostitution)
- 34 months
- Pirellone expenses (embezzlement)
- 13 months
The presidential pardon
On 18 February 2026, President Sergio Mattarella granted a pardon to Minetti, citing humanitarian grounds (she needed to care for her adopted son, who has serious health problems and was adopted in Uruguay). The clemency suspended the execution of the sentence. If Minetti commits no further crimes within five years, the penalty is extinguished. The decision drew controversy and prompted additional checks by the Milan prosecutor's office after an investigative report by Il Fatto Quotidiano raised questions about the adoption process. Following the review, the Quirinale confirmed its favourable opinion.
Court proceedings
The Milan surveillance court held a brief hearing on 12 June 2026, lasting only a few minutes. Deputy prosecutor general Valeria Marino asked the court to rule that there was no need to deliberate on Minetti's earlier request for probation, effectively acknowledging that the pardon had already suspended the sentence. Defence lawyers Antonella Calcaterra, Emanuele Fisicaro, Paolo Siniscalchi and Pasquale Pantano joined the request.
There is no place to rule because the pardon suspends the sentence and therefore the alternative measure cannot be granted.
Ruling and next steps
Presiding judge Marcello Bortolato and judge Paola Braggion issued their decision the same day. The court declared the enforcement order for the prison sentence extinguished, closing the case in what was described as a purely formal step. Minetti will not serve the prison term. Provided she stays clear of criminal activity for five years, the sentence will be permanently erased. The ruling brings an end to a legal saga that combined criminal justice with presidential clemency and political debate.
