Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi indicted on corruption charges

[shance]

Berlusconi, Mills indicted in Italy

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Monday October 30, 2006

Milan- Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and his British corporate lawyer, David Mills, are to stand trial on charges of corruption, judges in Milan ruled Monday. Judge Fabio Paparella set the trial's opening hearing for March 13.

Berlusconi is accused of paying 600,000 dollars to Mills to persuade him to withhold evidence in two corruption trials involving his Mediaset company, back in the 1990s.

The two are already facing another court trial on charges including false accounting and tax evasion. That trial is set to start on November 21.

In that case, the indictments capped a lengthy investigation into the sale by a US firm of television and movie rights to offshore companies controlled by Berlusconi with the aim of evading taxes.

Both men have denied the allegations, with Berlusconi insisting the accusations are politically-motivated.

"This is another blow below the belt against Silvio Berlusconi that has nothing to do with justice and a lot to do with politics," said Paolo Bonaiuti, a whip in Berlusconi's Forza Italia party.

Mills, an accomplished corporate lawyer who helped set up a number of offshore companies on behalf of Berlusconi, has denied taking bribes to shield the Italian leader from corruption charges.

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Berlusconi_Mills_indicted_in_Italy_10302006.html

[bdamomma]

1. hey, why can't we have our leader indicted.

[bigbrother05]

2. kick

[napi21]

3. Hmmm, can he & Shrub serve time together somewhere?

Maybe in one of those new Iraq prisons??????

[phoebe]

4. what about the Italian/US Presidential helicopter contract deal that

went through in about 6 hours? How exactly did that come about - enquiring minds would also like to know.

These 2 men will get exactly what they deserve - after all, Mills boasted that he helped Berlusconi cover up several deals to a journalist who printed it in the UK press..no doubt Carlyle Group will buy up Berlusconi's media empire when it is shredded into several pieces. If the new Italian PM is smart, he will ensure that there is public input and independent oversight over how the media will be distributed and smarter still, to have the public retain ownership rights.