Tragedy in the Maldives, Italian pedagogue: It was a scientific expedition, not a tourist one! Monika was going to study corals with the group

Entomologist and Distav-Unige lecturer Stefano Vanin, who was in the Maldives on the ship "Duke of York", from which the five Italians who lost their lives drowned, has stated to Genoa investigators that it was a scientific expedition and not a tourist one.

"It was a scientific expedition, not a tourist one. We were there for the University, I was studying insects, while Monica and the rest were studying corals," he is reported to have declared to Italian authorities.

At the Genoa police station, Vanin handed over computers, mobile phones and other equipment belonging to the victims, teacher Monica Montefalcone, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, researcher Muriel Oddenino and recent graduate Federico Gualtieri. The four lost their lives along with the ship's captain, Gianluca Benedetti.

According to Italian media, among the seized materials are two notebooks, which may help investigators better understand the purpose and technique of the fatal dive.

Meanwhile, the Genoa Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigative file to formalize the seizure of evidence, while the case will be transferred to the Rome Prosecutor's Office, which has launched investigations into manslaughter.

Investigators have also secured a full list of students and PhD students who were on board the Duke of York on the day of the tragedy. They are expected to be questioned in the coming days, while authorities are maintaining maximum reserve on the evidence.

In the coming hours, the bodies of the four victims will arrive at Malpensa airport, while the body of Gianluca Benedetti is already in Italy.

The victims' families have started legal proceedings. Giorgio Sommacal, Monica Montefalcone's husband and Giorgia's father, has hired two lawyers to pursue the case. According to Italian media, they will also appoint an independent expert for the autopsy, which is expected to take place on Monday.

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