Italian influencer and entrepreneur Chiara Ferragni was acquitted at the end of a fast-track trial focused on the high-profile Pink Christmas pandoro and Easter egg cases. The decision was handed down by Ilio Mannucci Pacini, a judge of the Third Criminal Section of the Milan Court.

The influencer had been charged with aggravated fraud over allegedly misleading messages posted on social media: according to prosecutors, she promoted sales of the two products, suggesting that a portion of the proceeds would fund charitable projects.

Judge Mannucci did not, as a matter of law, accept the aggravating factor- contested by prosecutors- relating to the diminished ability of consumers or online users to protect themselves, which would have made the fraud offence prosecutable even without a formal complaint. Consequently, since Codacons withdrew its complaint about a year ago following a settlement with the influencer, he ordered the case be dismissed on the grounds that the offence- reclassified as simple fraud- was extinguished.

The dismissal also applied to Chiara Ferragni’s co-defendants: her then right-hand man, Fabio Damato, and Cerealitalia’s president, Francesco Cannillo.