- By
- MANUELA MESCO
- And
- GIADA ZAMPANO
Zuma PressSilvio Berlusconi, seen in a July photo
The verdict means Mr. Berlusconi's conviction is final, the first definitive ruling for the three-time premier who has faced at least two dozen trials since entering politics in 1994. On most cases, he has been acquitted or has seen charged dropped due to statute of limitations.
Mr. Berlusconi, 76, isn't likely to go to jail as a result of Thursday's ruling because most convicted felons in Italy over the age of 70 are given house arrest or community service.
[h=3]Trying Times for Berlusconi[/h]
Mr. Berlusconi was convicted in October on charges that Mediaset, Italy's dominant private television broadcaster, bought U.S. film and television rights at inflated prices, allowing the company to fraudulently lower its tax bill. Mr. Berlusconi has repeatedly denied the charges, saying he didn't take part in talks over TV rights.
That conviction included the jail sentence of four years as well as a five-year ban on holding public office. While the Supreme Court upheld the conviction and the jail sentence, it ordered an appeals court to review the ban on holding public office. The ban on public office could be reduced to between 18 months and three years.
The conviction and the ban on holding public office represent a serious blow for the conservative billionaire, who has dominated Italian politics for the past two decades and has staged a remarkable comeback since falling from power in autumn of 2011. Mr. Berlusconi has made his legal woes a major campaign issue, accusing magistrates of conducting a bitter political campaign against him and appealing to Italians' frustration over the country's tortured judicial system. Magistrates have strongly denied any political motivation.
Write to Manuela Mesco at [email protected] and Giada Zampano at [email protected]
