Berlusconi in rare court appearance
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi made a rare court appearance today at his trial on a tax fraud charge.
He smiled and shook hands with lawyers as he entered the courthouse in Milan.
Outside, dozens of his supporters organised a demonstration, with blue balloons saying “Silvio, resist!”
Mr Berlusconi denies the charge, and has said he will appear at the Milan hearing as frequently as duties allow to contest four active cases against him.
“These charges are laughable, unfounded and demented,” he told reporters inside the courtroom.
He called the charges “the invention of the public prosecutor”.
Prosecutors say Mr Berlusconi’s Mediaset media empire purchased TV rights for US movies through two offshore companies and falsely declared the costs to reduce its tax bill.
The premier attended a closed-door preliminary hearing on March 28 in another alleged tax fraud case also involving the purchase of TV rights to broadcast American films on his private network.
But he last turned up in open court for a trial eight years ago.
He has been tried numerous times, mostly in relation to his business dealings. He has always either been acquitted or seen the statute of limitations expire.
Last week he missed the opening of his trial for allegedly paying for sex with an under-age prostitute and using his influence to cover it up.
