Ex-Italian Premier, Berlusconi sentenced to seven years in underage sex case
A Milan court on Monday convicted former Italian Premier Silvio
Berlusconi (76) of paying for sex with an underage sex worker during
infamous “bunga bunga” parties at his villa and then using his influence
to try to cover it up. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and
barred from public office for life — a sentence that could mean the end
of his two-decade political career. However, there are two more levels
of appeal before the sentence would become final, a process that can
take months.
Berlusconi holds no official post in the current government, but remains
influential in the uneasy ruling cross-party coalition.
The written explanation of the three female judges for arriving at the verdict will be submitted in the next few
weeks.
This comes on the heels of Berlusconi’s tax-fraud conviction, which
along with a four-year prison sentence and five—year ban on public
office, have been upheld on a first appeal. It is headed to Italy’s
highest court for a final appeal.
