Supreme Court in Italy
has maintained a prison sentence given to former Prime Minister Silvio
Burlusconi for hedging of tax. In the case it was alleged that Berlusconi's
media empire had inflated the price it paid for film distribution rights to with
an intention of avoiding taxes.
Following his
conviction last October, Mr Berlusconi was sentenced to four years but they
were reduced to one year under the pardon law of 2006. He appealed against the
sentence and the five-year office ban out of all the 30 counts. Other appeals which
are pending in other convicted cases include; arranging for a police wiretap to
be leaked, having paid for sex with an underage prostitute and published in a
newspaper.
Given his advanced age of 76, he faces either
community service or house arrest. However, being a senate member the former PM
enjoys the immunity of arrest. Berlusconi was also banned from holding any
public office for at least five years a decision which he strongly opposes.
The multi-billionaire however, has hope as the
court ordered a reexamination of a five-year ban for holding any public office.
The review of the five-year ban will permit Mr Berlusconi to maintain his
senatorial seat and to stay leader of centre-right People of Freedom Party.
After the ruling, Italian
President Giorgio Napolitano urged the country to stay calm saying: "The
country needs to rediscover serenity and cohesion on vitally important
institutional matters which have for too long seen it divided and unable to
enact reforms”.
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