Berlusconi 'pained' as former aide arrested
Italian prosecutors say they have arrested a former Silvio Berlusconi aide for allegedly helping a businessman convicted of Mafia association.
Claudio Scajola, a minister in Berlusconi’s last government, was held on suspicion of having helped Amedeo Matacena – who also was a policymaker from Berlusconi’s party – flee abroad to escape a five-year jail sentence after his conviction was finalised last year.
Italian news agency Ansa says Scajola was arrested at a luxury Rome hotel.
He resigned in 2010 as industry minister amid allegations that he paid far below market value for a luxury apartment overlooking the Colosseum in Rome. He was later acquitted of wrongdoing.
Berlusconi said he was “pained” by the arrest.
