Berlusconi Jail Term Confirmed for Tax Evasion
August 2nd, 2013My guess is that this is a wrist slap over his repeated failure to maintain appearances with regard to young prostitutes. If unchecked, this might lead to exposure of much more sinister activities, not necessarily by Berlusconi, but by others in his milieu.
Via: BBC:
Italy’s highest court has upheld a prison sentence given to former PM Silvio Berlusconi for tax evasion.
The court also ordered a further judicial review on whether he should be banned from holding public office.
In an emotional video statement, Berlusconi denounced the decision as “based on nothing, and which deprives me of my freedom and political rights”.
The sentence cannot be appealed against further but Berlusconi, 76, is unlikely to go to jail because of his age.
The ruling by Rome’s Court of Cassation came after a three-day hearing. Berlusconi was not in court.
The former prime minister was sentenced to four years in prison at the conclusion of the trial in October last year, though this was automatically reduced to a year under a 2006 pardon law.
Berlusconi is likely to serve house arrest or carry out community service.
His lawyers described Thursday’s ruling as “unjust”.
