Ravenna, September 17, 2026 – From Ravenna to the heel of the Boot, Bari: the investigation into alleged medical certificates to prevent the sending of irregular foreign citizens to Cpr, coordinated by the prosecutor’s office of the city of mosaics, crosses Italy and ignites politics. Yesterday there were a series of searches on 23 professionals, carried out by the police with the Sco of Rome and the Ravenna Mobile Squad, between Bologna, Rimini, Milan, Varese, Biella, Florence, Livorno, Rome and Bari.
Of these last professionals, only one is under investigation but for him and three colleagues involved in the first part of the investigation the charge is heavy: criminal association aimed at the creation of false certificates to prevent the sending of irregular foreign citizens to the Repatriation Detention Centers.
The doctor searched yesterday, under investigation, is Nicola Cocco, infectious disease specialist considered by investigators a sort of reference point for colleagues on the subject, member of the Simm (Italian Society of Migration Medicine). The society, targeted by the investigators of the Mobile Squad coordinated by pm Angela Scorza, is referenced by manuals and flyers, searched along with communications, messages and exchanges both in chats and in the living and working places of the doctors at the center of the storm.
The raid last February
Last February the searches were carried out in the homes and cars of Ravenna doctors, as well as in the Infectious Diseases department of the city hospital. A raid that sparked criticism from many colleagues who organized a solidarity demonstration. The first part of the investigation into anti-repatriation certificates then led in recent months to a ten-month suspension from the profession for 3 Infectious Diseases doctors from Ravenna and suspension from handling certificates for suitability for administrative detention in Cpr for five other colleagues – one later transferred to the hospital in Forlì – always investigated for continued ideological falsehood and interruption of public service.
The other searches
Yesterday new searches throughout Italy, similar to those in February, with the difference that now electronic devices and homes and offices of professionals, not only infectious disease specialists, were scrutinized: all, except Dr. Cocco, currently not under investigation. Among others, a Roman psychiatrist, defended by lawyer Antonio Ingroia, former magistrate of the ‘Controcorrente’ movement. Other searches were carried out in the office of a doctor who worked in Ravenna, now transferred to Florence, a doctor from Livorno, a professional from Rimini, nine doctors from Bari and five colleagues from Bologna, summoned to the police headquarters.
Their lawyer, lawyer Fabio Anselmo, says: “People who are not under investigation are treated like mafia criminals. What happened is terrible. They were woken up before 6, taken to the police headquarters, for the seizure of cell phones and PCs. The responsibility for these methods lies with the Ravenna Prosecutor’s Office.”
And in Bologna in front of the police headquarters yesterday there was a demonstration with, among others, Vanessa Guidi, doctor of Mediterranea: “Professional women are being targeted as if they were part of a criminal association, when instead they have only conscientiously followed the code of ethics avoiding that people were locked up in Cpr, places harmful to physical and mental health. After Ravenna we expected a similar declaration of war at the national level and it does not surprise us that Bologna, always in the sights of this government, is particularly hit.”
The Lega leader Salvini: “They must be struck off the register”
And speaking of government, the comment on social media from the deputy prime minister and Lega leader, Matteo Salvini, was not long in coming: “If found guilty, removal from the medical register and payment of damages, out of their own pocket.”
Representatives of Brothers of Italy also intervened on the investigation, including the group leader in the Chamber, Galeazzo Bignami, and the deputy Alice Buonguerrieri. Meanwhile, a solidarity demonstration for the doctors on Saturday in Bologna has been announced.
