They chained themselves in front of the Lecce court, showing banners and placards and asking for their brother, Oscar La Penna, a gynecologist from Gallipoli, to be released from prison for health reasons, detained since last May after his final sentence of 4 years, 1 month and ten days of imprisonment on charges of sexual assault against two patients. Events that occurred in 2019. Francesco, Laura, Giuseppe and Maria Antonietta La Penna believe that their brother’s health conditions are incompatible with the prison regime. The gynecologist served at the Perrino hospital in Brindisi for 35 years. “Our brother – they argued – is dying amidst everyone’s indifference. His state of profound prostration that began in 2019 has already led him to perform acts of self-harm. He hasn’t eaten for over a month and is so debilitated that he is confined to a wheelchair.” Since “he left the hospital – his family observed – he has not yet been visited by anyone in the prison in Lecce where he was transferred and we fear that every minute without treatment and assistance could be fatal for him”. The four brothers explained that “this is not a protest against justice. For that aspect we will continue until the end because we believe in his innocence, but – they concluded – we ask the judges to grant him house arrest so that he can receive the care and assistance needed”.
(Freepik photo)
