The Palermo court of appeal sentenced five people, including the Bagheria boss Paolo Liga, nephew of the mafia boss Giuseppe Scaduto, accused in various ways of mafia association and aggravated extortion.

The trial stems from an investigation by the carabinieri who ascertained that Liga, who had taken the place of his uncle at the helm of the clan, kept relations with the fugitive godfather Matteo Messina Denaro. Liga, known as 'the American' for his contacts with overseas clans, was sentenced to 9 years and 8 months.