In May 1998 the sentences were confirmed by the Supreme Court of Cassation: Pasquale Cuntrera was convicted to 20 years in prison, Gaspare and Paolo Cuntrera to 15 years. However, due to an error in communication about expiration of provisional incarceration terms, Pasquale Cuntrera had been able to leave prison two weeks before. When Cuntrera's getaway was reported in the news media, the opposition asked for the resignation of the minister Justice, Giovanni Maria Flick, and the minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgio Napolitano. Flick offered his resignation but that was refused by Prime minister Romano Prodi. Pasquale Cuntrera was arrested some days later in Fuengirola, Spain, while he was waiting for arrangements to travel to Venezuela; Pasquale Cuntrera was extradited to Italy to serve the 20 year prison sentence.