Italian news reports say the men were on vacation in Sri Lanka at the time and have been held in the country since the incident.
The Accused
Luigi Ferrari, an orthopedic surgeon who specialises in treating foot and ankle injuries, is described as an insect enthusiast, reports say. He is also a member of an entomology association in Modena, a city in the north of Italy.
The Italian daily Corriere della Sera reports that Ferrari’s colleagues and friends continue to plead for leniency in the case. Some suggest that the butterflies found in his possession have no commercial value and are not endangered.
