Berlusconi sentenced to (another) seven years in prison

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a court in Milan in the Rubygate trial, where he is accused of abuse of power and participation in prostitution with a minor, and this decision could affect the political stability of Italy and is much harsher than the expected verdict.

The three-member court panel, all women, also imposed a lifetime ban on Cavaliere from holding any public office due to abuse of power for arranging the release of Karima El Mahroug from police custody when she was detained for theft. The prosecution had sought a total of six years in prison for Berlusconi.

Silvio Berlusconi (76) was at his residence in Arcore near Milan at the time of the verdict and will not go to prison as his lawyers have filed an appeal. Until the Supreme Court confirms this verdict, it is not final, and it may take years for a final ruling. The former president of the Italian government reacted sharply to the verdict and stated in writing that he would not succumb to injustice.

Once again, I intend to resist this injustice because I am completely innocent, writes Cavaliere in his first reaction to the court’s verdict. I was truly convinced that I would be acquitted of the charges because there is actually no possibility of convicting me. An outrageous verdict has been pronounced, unprecedented violence to eliminate me from the political life of the country. It is not just about a feeble judiciary and an insult to all Italians who believe in me and my commitment to the country, Berlusconi assessed.

The Rubygate trial, in which the Milan prosecution speaks of orgies organized since the spring of 2010 at Berlusconi’s luxury villa in Arcore, included among others the young Moroccan Karima El Mahroug, also known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, who was 17 years old at the time.

Prosecutor Ilda Boccassini sought a five-year prison sentence for the abuse of power by the then Prime Minister, who used his position to free Ruby detained in Milan, and one year for paid sexual services from a minor. Berlusconi’s lawyers argued that he called to avoid a diplomatic incident because he believed that El Mahroug, who is Moroccan, was the granddaughter of Hosni Mubarak, the then Egyptian president. Boccassini also sought a lifetime ban on holding any political office for the former prime minister.

The court went further and accused Berlusconi of abuse of power under duress and requested the initiation of an investigation into possible false statements by some witnesses during the trial. On the other hand, Cavaliere’s defense sought his complete acquittal and claimed that he had committed no offense. Since entering politics in 1994, Berlusconi has been sentenced to a total of 18 years and five months in prison, including the Rubygate verdict.