Berlusconi corruption hearing begins
A Rome hearing today on whether to indict former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi and lawyer David Mills on corruption charges was largely devoted to technicalities, a defence lawyer said.
Berlusconi is accused of ordering the payment in 1997 of at least £319,000 (€463,230) to British national Mills in exchange for the lawyer’s false testimony in two trials against Berlusconi. Both men deny the allegations.
Mills is married to UK Secretary for Culture Tessa Jowell. They formally separated last March.
Milan Judge Fabio Paparella began hearing the case, and a decision on the indictment is likely within weeks, said lawyer Niccolo Ghedini. Today’s session was largely devoted to technicalities, he added.
If convicted, Mills and Berlusconi could be sentenced to between three and eight years in prison, prosecutors have said.
Berlusconi has a long history of legal troubles linked to his business interests based in Milan. The next hearing is scheduled for Friday.
