Berlusconi tax fraud sentence upheld by Italian court

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A Milan appeals court upheld a four-year sentence for tax fraud against former prime minister and centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday, adding to the complications facing Italy's fragile coalition government.

In addition to the jail sentence for tax fraud in connection with the purchase of broadcasting rights by his television network Mediaset, the court's ruling would also bar Berlusconi from holding public office for five years.

However, neither sentence will take effect unless confirmed in a final appeal before the court of cassation when the three-stroke appeals process allowed under Italian law has been exhausted.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/08/uk-berlusconi-mediaset-idUKBRE9470W420130508

[FightingIrish]

1. At his age (76) he could just let the clock run out.

Even though he may never see the inside of the slammer, the sentence includes a five year ban from holding public office.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Seems to me that if they say his age means he'll never go to jail

they could at least make the ban on public office longer. Permanent would be good, for Italy.