Ostro: Gallace and Arcorace acquitted after Sky ECC evidence excluded
The Ostro abbreviated trial in Catanzaro ended on 9 October with 16 convictions and 34 acquittals. Cosimo Damiano Gallace and Cesare Arcorace were among those acquitted. According to ANSA, excluding SkyECC chats played a decisive role. The case concerns alleged Gallace clan influence over elections and public contracts in Badolato.
The preliminary hearing judge in Catanzaro delivered the verdict on 9 October 2026 in the abbreviated trial arising from Operation Ostro. The anti-mafia prosecution's investigation concerned alleged interference by the Gallace clan in Badolato's municipal elections and public contracts. There were 16 convictions and 34 acquittals.
According to ANSA and LaC News24, intercepted messages from the encrypted SkyECC platform could not be used as evidence following defence objections. Cosimo Damiano Gallace and Cesare Arcorace were among the principal defendants acquitted. Sentences imposed in this branch of the proceedings ranged from eight months to eight years and four months.
The evidentiary dispute concerned data obtained from France through a European Investigation Order. According to the reports, the judge had previously ordered the data to be frozen to prevent further processing or transfer. The anti-mafia prosecution challenged that order before Italy's Court of Cassation, which rejected its appeal.









































