Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison
Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to 4 years in
prison for tax evasion by a Milan court. His lawyer called the decision
“incredible” and is hoping for a different ruling upon appealing the
verdict.
The court also ruled on Friday that Berlusconi is forbidden from
holding any government post for three years, ordering him to pay 10
million euro in damages. The former PM is expected to appeal the
decision.
The liklihood of Berlusconi actually spending time behind bars
remains to be seen, as verdicts in Italy are only finalized after
passing through two stages of appeal.
Berlusconi and 10 other defendants were charged with a scheme to
purchase the television rights for US movies to be broadcast on the
three time premier’s private television networks via a complex web of
offshore companies. The prosecution says Berlusconi and his partner
Fedele Confalonieri then falsely declared payments to their Mediaset TV
company to avoid paying taxes.
They were also accused of artificially inflating prices for the TV
rights of some 3,000 firms which were relicensed on Berlusconi’s
networks, earning 250 million euro in illegal profits in the process.
The ruling in protracted 6-year legal battle comes two days after
Berlusconi, 76, announced he would not run to reclaim his former
position as Italy’s prime minister in upcoming parliamentary elections.
–
Read the rest of the article here: RT
Thanks to: http://www.thehealersjournal.com
Former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to 4 years in
prison for tax evasion by a Milan court. His lawyer called the decision
“incredible” and is hoping for a different ruling upon appealing the
verdict.
The court also ruled on Friday that Berlusconi is forbidden from
holding any government post for three years, ordering him to pay 10
million euro in damages. The former PM is expected to appeal the
decision.
The liklihood of Berlusconi actually spending time behind bars
remains to be seen, as verdicts in Italy are only finalized after
passing through two stages of appeal.
Berlusconi and 10 other defendants were charged with a scheme to
purchase the television rights for US movies to be broadcast on the
three time premier’s private television networks via a complex web of
offshore companies. The prosecution says Berlusconi and his partner
Fedele Confalonieri then falsely declared payments to their Mediaset TV
company to avoid paying taxes.
They were also accused of artificially inflating prices for the TV
rights of some 3,000 firms which were relicensed on Berlusconi’s
networks, earning 250 million euro in illegal profits in the process.
The ruling in protracted 6-year legal battle comes two days after
Berlusconi, 76, announced he would not run to reclaim his former
position as Italy’s prime minister in upcoming parliamentary elections.
–
Read the rest of the article here: RT
Thanks to: http://www.thehealersjournal.com
