ROME, May 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Top officials from a group that rescues undocumented migrants from boats in the Mediterranean will go on trial in Italy in October on charges of aiding illegal immigration, the group announced Wednesday.

The Mediterranea Saving Humans (MSH) group said in a Facebook post that the case had been sent to trial and hearings would start on October 21 against three top representatives and the captain and three crew from one of the vessels its uses.

According to prosecutors, the AP Moeller-Maersk shipping giant paid 125,000 euros ($140,000) to the Idra company that oversees MSH, just after the group took 27 migrants off one of the Danish carrier's ships in September 2020.

The migrants had been stuck on the vessel for more than one month.

A number of rescue groups that operate in the Mediterranean between Libya, Malta and Italy have been criticised in Italy, with some accusing them of working with migrant traffickers.

MSH in 2020 took onto their Mare Jonio vessel the 27 migrants who had been stuck on the Maersk Etienne ship as Italy and Malta had refused to accept them.

At the time, MSH leader Luca Casarini told Italian media that the money given by Maersk was to pay for consultancy work carried for the shipping firm on port management.