Italy court says Eritrean in migrant case was victim of mistaken identity

Alleged people-smuggling kingpin identified in court as Medhanie Yehdego Mered, who claims his identity has been mistaken and his name is really Medhanie Tesfamariam Behre, awaits his sentence in Palermo, Italy, July 12, 2019. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) - An Italian court ruled on Friday that an Eritrean man extradited from Sudan in 2016 was the victim of mistaken identity and dismissed allegations that he was a ruthless, human-trafficking kingpin.

However, the judges said Medhanie Tesfamariam Berhe was nonetheless guilty of abetting people smuggling and handed him a five-year prison term and a fine of 100,000 euros (£89,628).