{"id":96555,"date":"2025-03-26T13:30:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T12:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/addiopizzo.org\/updates\/confermata-in-appello-la-sentenza-del-processo-octopus-dove-le-vittime-di-bagheria-si-sono-ribellate-con-laiuto-di-addiopizzo\/"},"modified":"2025-03-26T17:30:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T16:30:03","slug":"the-verdict-of-the-octopus-trial-was-upheld-on-appeal-where-the-victims-from-bagheria-stood-up-with-the-help-of-addiopizzo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/addiopizzo.org\/en\/updates\/the-verdict-of-the-octopus-trial-was-upheld-on-appeal-where-the-victims-from-bagheria-stood-up-with-the-help-of-addiopizzo\/","title":{"rendered":"The verdict of the Octopus trial was upheld on appeal, where the victims from Bagheria stood up with the help of Addiopizzo."},"content":{"rendered":"

The conviction handed down in the first instance of the Octopus<\/strong> trial has been upheld on appeal, in which many of the defendants accused of extortion aggravated by mafia methods<\/strong> were convicted, and where some shopkeepers had pressed charges with the support of our movement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the trial, we joined as a civil party<\/strong> together with the owners of Caff\u00e8 Verdone in Bagheria<\/strong>, whom we had assisted in reporting the crimes after they were subjected to abuse, assaults, threats, and extortion<\/strong> aimed at imposing private security at their pub.<\/p>\n

We got in touch with the young entrepreneurs of Bagheria<\/strong> some time ago. They were exhausted by fights sparked out of nowhere<\/strong> and worried about losing customers and seeing all their sacrifices go to waste. The investigation and the conclusion of the trial confirmed the existence of a group of individuals dedicated to imposing private security<\/strong> in many venues between Palermo and Bagheria.<\/p>\n

It was not an easy trial: during some hearings, there were moments of tension<\/strong>. In the face of the silence of many pub and restaurant owners<\/strong> who were evasive even during their testimony, the young people from Caff\u00e8 Verdone<\/strong> were among the few who, despite avoiding the spotlight, not only filed a report but also, with the support of Addiopizzo<\/strong>, confirmed in court what they had endured<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This is a case that shows \u2014 if proof were still needed \u2014 that the conditions exist to report safely and break free from extortion<\/strong>, even in the province of Palermo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What is clear from this story too \u2014 and we want to emphasize it \u2014 is that those who pay out of fear can still find, even after a long time, a way to say enough and break free from mafia influence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Today, however, most business owners who pay extortion money do so not out of fear but out of convenience.<\/strong> And on this point, an update to the analysis and narrative<\/strong> of the phenomenon is now urgent \u2014 it’s no longer what it was twenty years ago, and many of those who pay the pizzo seek a \u201csettlement\u201d rather than suffer it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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The story of Caff\u00e8 Verdone<\/h4>\n