Reuters: Berlusconi and Mills stand trial for alleged bribe

[Eugene]

Berlusconi and Mills stand trial for alleged bribe

By Jo Winterbottom

26 minutes ago

MILAN (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi and David Mills go on trial on Tuesday
over an alleged bribe paid to the British lawyer to keep quiet about the
former Italian prime minister's media business dealings.

Berlusconi is accused of paying Mills, the estranged husband of British
Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Tessa Jowell, $600,000 for
withholding details of his media empire during testimony in two court
cases in 1997.

If convicted of the charge of corruption in a court case, media mogul
Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, could face up to eight years in prison,
as could Mills.

It is one of two ongoing trials for Berlusconi and Mills -- an expert in
offshore taxation -- over the Mediaset broadcasting business owned
by the leader of Italy's centre-right opposition.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070312/wl_nm/berlusconi_mills_dc

[Vidar]

1. Good to see Berlusconi on trial for something.

[bleever]

2. Silvio,

Silver and gold
Won't buy back the love
Of a heart grown cold.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Surely hope he can't keep delaying this thing. Looks as if he's good at playing the game.

From the article:

If proceedings run into 2008, Berlusconi is likely to avoid prosecution because the statute of limitations -- which was shortened under his government -- could come into play.

Berlusconi has faced several court cases over the last two decades but any convictions have been overturned at appeal, lapsed under the statute of limitations or are under appeal.
(snip/)

http://www.hilo.dk/blahview.php?id=26