Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi back on trial Skip to main content

Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi back on trial

By Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, March 2 The prime minister denies all the allegations against him

Berlusconi's troubles

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi goes back on trial on Saturday in a case involving alleged corruption.
Mr Berlusconi is accused of fraud and embezzlement over the acquisition of television rights involving one of his media companies.
It is one of four trials Mr Berlusconi is currently linked to, including one where he is accused of paying an underage prostitute for sex.
The prime minister denies all the allegations against him.
He had his immunity from prosecution largely withdrawn in January.
Series of trials In this latest trial it is claimed that with his son and others Mr Berlusconi overpaid for television rights and then avoided paying tax on the transaction.
The case is related to another fraud trial involving the prime minister that began a week ago.
A third trial where Mr Berlusconi is accused of bribery is due to begin later this month.
The fourth trial is scheduled for next month in which the prime minister has been indicted for paying an underage prostitute for sex and abusing his powers.
The 74-year-old leader recently said that he had undergone more trials than anyone in the history of the universe, claiming he had been a defendant in more than 50 cases.
The prime minister also revealed that he had given up his mobile phone because he feared he might be the target of wire tapping by prosecutors who have been investigating him.
Mr Berlusconi is not obliged to turn up in court and he has only rarely appeared in person.
And while his legal troubles and alleged scandals involving young women have eroded his popularity, the prime minister seems to be gathering strength in parliament, as a breakaway party set up to challenge his leadership has itself become disunited.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12655127
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