A British national, an Irish national, and two South Africans have been jailed in Italy after stealing “souvenirs” from cruise ship Costa Concordia (IMO 9320544), which was wrecked off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Italy, in January 2012.
Sean Ruddy, 41, and British national David Freeburn, 47, were convicted of stealing a bag with the Costa Concordia logo on it in November 2013. The two men were jailed for six months and fined €200 each. South African citizens Melvin Lotter, 31, and Hendrik Johannes Venter, 33, were found guilty of violating police seals and were sentenced to four months in prison and fined €200 each.
All four men were employed by salvage firm Titan Micoperi and worked mainly to defuel the vessel prior to its removal. They were detained by Italian police after CCTV images captured them boarding the vessel. The men were fired by Titan Microperi, who in a November 2013 statement said: “The company has taken immediate action to remove the workers from the project.”