Berlusconi Is Sentenced To 4 Years In Jail Over Tax Fraud

posted 8 May 2013, 12:16 by Sam Mbale [ updated 8 May 2013, 12:17 ]

An appeals court has sentenced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to 4 years in jail for tax fraud.

ITALY ( (REUTERS) - An appeals court sentenced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconito 4 years in jail on Wednesday (May 8) for tax fraud in connection with the purchase of broadcasting rights by his television network Mediaset.

The 76-year-old media magnate, who is facing a separate trial on charges of paying for sex with a minor in the notorious "bunga bunga" parties, was also ordered to be barred from holding any public office job.

Berlusconi can appeal against the sentence before it becomes definitive.

Berlusconi had appealed to reverse a previous October court ruling, which also sentenced him to four years in jail for tax fraud. He will not face the prospect of jail unless he loses his next appeal.

The next hearing of his trial for paying for sex with a minor is scheduled for May 13.

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