Italian court considers Berlusconi's community service

ANSA sources said that on April 10, the Milan City Court will make a decision on whether former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi must perform community service or not.

In August 2013, the three-time Italian Prime Minister was sentenced by the Milan Court to four years in prison for tax fraud in his business activities at the Mediaset media group, of which he is the largest shareholder.

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the trial on August 1, 2013. (Source: AFP/VNA)

It was the first time in more than 20 years that a court had succeeded in convicting Mr Berlusconi. The sentence was later reduced from three years to one, under Italy's amnesty rules for defendants over the age of 70.

However, Berlusconi said he was too old and asked for community service instead of prison.

The head of the Forza Italia party is currently facing a number of other charges.

The 77-year-old former prime minister is currently appealing a court ruling that sentenced him to seven years in prison for having sex with an underage prostitute and then abusing his power to cover it up.

In another trial set to open next month in the southern Italian city of Bari, five people close to him are also likely to be sentenced to between five and seven years in prison for arranging prostitutes for Berlusconi at his night parties in 2008 and 2009.

Berlusconi is also currently being prosecuted for bribing a senator to switch from the left to the right, contributing to the fall of the centre-left government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi in 2008.

Berlusconi denies all charges, claiming he is innocent and a victim of persecution by left-wing judges./.

According to VNA