Berlusconi to appear at corruption trial

Silvio Berlusconi

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is due to appear in court to face trial over corruption charges.

Mr Berlusconi, who is a defendant in a total of four trials, says he will attend as many hearings as possible in order to prove his innocence.

The trial starting on Monday concerns one of Mr Berlusconi’s media companies.

He denies claims he inflated the price paid to buy television rights, and then skimming off the difference to fund political and other activities.

His son and a number of others are accused alongside him.

The 74-year-old prime minister has been a defendant in about 50 trials in his career, but has not made a public appearance at one for many years.

He exercises his right to stay away, accusing the judiciary of being politically biased against him.

But now he says he will turn up at as many hearings as his job permits in order to prove his innocence.

Another reason why he is due to appear in court is that Mr Berlusconi had his immunity from prosecution watered down in January.

As well as this court case, he also faces two other corruption trials and a fourth where he is accused of paying an underage prostitute.

In that trial, Mr Berlusconi faces up to 15 years in jail.

In each case Mr Berlusconi says he is innocent.

But although the cumulative effect of these sex and corruption scandals have taken their toll on his popularity, there is no immediate threat to his position as prime minister.
Source: BBC

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