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Silvio Berlusconi verdict sends shockwaves | Silvio Berlusconi verdict sends shockwaves |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers were known to be braced for defeat in the closing stages of the scandalous "Ruby" sex trial, and they needed to be. | Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers were known to be braced for defeat in the closing stages of the scandalous "Ruby" sex trial, and they needed to be. |
In this case that laid bare the former prime minister's so called "bunga-bunga" party lifestyle, the judges delivered a crushing verdict. | In this case that laid bare the former prime minister's so called "bunga-bunga" party lifestyle, the judges delivered a crushing verdict. |
Mr Berlusconi was convicted on both the charges he faced, sentenced to seven years in jail and banned from holding public office ever again. | Mr Berlusconi was convicted on both the charges he faced, sentenced to seven years in jail and banned from holding public office ever again. |
The judges decided that he did indeed pay for sex with underage prostitute Karima El Mahroug, better known by her nightclub dancer stage name "Ruby the Heartstealer". | The judges decided that he did indeed pay for sex with underage prostitute Karima El Mahroug, better known by her nightclub dancer stage name "Ruby the Heartstealer". |
The court had heard that he slept with her on 13 occasions at a time when he was still Italy's prime minister. | The court had heard that he slept with her on 13 occasions at a time when he was still Italy's prime minister. |
Ms El Mahroug, however, says she has never been a prostitute. And both she and Mr Berlusconi denied they had ever had sex. | Ms El Mahroug, however, says she has never been a prostitute. And both she and Mr Berlusconi denied they had ever had sex. |
The judges also decided that the former prime minister had abused the powers of his office; that he pressured the police into freeing Ms El Mahroug when she was in custody. | The judges also decided that the former prime minister had abused the powers of his office; that he pressured the police into freeing Ms El Mahroug when she was in custody. |
'Elegant' parties | 'Elegant' parties |
The court had heard that Mr Berlusconi had met the dancer when she attended one of his party nights. | The court had heard that Mr Berlusconi had met the dancer when she attended one of his party nights. |
These were occasions when aspiring showgirls and models would mix with him and his influential entourage. | These were occasions when aspiring showgirls and models would mix with him and his influential entourage. |
Prosecution witnesses talked of raunchy, sexually-charged cavorting. | Prosecution witnesses talked of raunchy, sexually-charged cavorting. |
There were accounts of women dressed as nuns stripping to their underwear for the entertainment of the then prime minister. | There were accounts of women dressed as nuns stripping to their underwear for the entertainment of the then prime minister. |
Mr Berlusconi has always denied that anything sleazy ever went on at what he has called his "elegant" dinner parties. | Mr Berlusconi has always denied that anything sleazy ever went on at what he has called his "elegant" dinner parties. |
And he was furious at the judgement. | And he was furious at the judgement. |
"It is not only bad justice, it is an offence to all Italians who have believed in me and trusted in my commitment to the country," he wrote in a statement. | "It is not only bad justice, it is an offence to all Italians who have believed in me and trusted in my commitment to the country," he wrote in a statement. |
He has always argued that he is being hounded by politically motivated left-wing prosecutors in Milan. | He has always argued that he is being hounded by politically motivated left-wing prosecutors in Milan. |
And he said this verdict had been an effort to eliminate him from political life. | And he said this verdict had been an effort to eliminate him from political life. |
Divided opinion | Divided opinion |
Many of the millions of Italians who vote for Mr Berlusconi will agree. | Many of the millions of Italians who vote for Mr Berlusconi will agree. |
Among them is a friend of the former prime minister, Diego Volpe Pasini, who used to go to the "bunga-bunga" parties. | Among them is a friend of the former prime minister, Diego Volpe Pasini, who used to go to the "bunga-bunga" parties. |
"The Ruby case is extraordinary," he said, in the days before the verdict. | "The Ruby case is extraordinary," he said, in the days before the verdict. |
"It's a nonsense. How can you be convicted if you can't see a victim? Ruby's not a victim," he said, referring to Ms El Mahroug's denials that she ever had sex with Mr Berlusconi. | "It's a nonsense. How can you be convicted if you can't see a victim? Ruby's not a victim," he said, referring to Ms El Mahroug's denials that she ever had sex with Mr Berlusconi. |
Mr Volpe Pasini said that at his parties Mr Berlusconi would sing and tell jokes. | Mr Volpe Pasini said that at his parties Mr Berlusconi would sing and tell jokes. |
He added that - although showgirls might have tried to impress the media magnate prime minister with dance routines - nothing morally questionable happened. | He added that - although showgirls might have tried to impress the media magnate prime minister with dance routines - nothing morally questionable happened. |
But many of those Italians who loathe Mr Berlusconi and everything he stands for will believe he is guilty as charged. | But many of those Italians who loathe Mr Berlusconi and everything he stands for will believe he is guilty as charged. |
And this very high-profile case has probably damaged Mr Berlusconi more than most of his many courtroom dramas. | And this very high-profile case has probably damaged Mr Berlusconi more than most of his many courtroom dramas. |
"Some of the information that's been emerging has been a bit excessive from the point of view of moral behaviour and private behaviour," Professor Franco Pavoncello of John Cabot University in Rome. | "Some of the information that's been emerging has been a bit excessive from the point of view of moral behaviour and private behaviour," Professor Franco Pavoncello of John Cabot University in Rome. |
"I think that people are a bit disturbed by the kind of images that started to appear from those evenings in Mr Berlusconi's villa." | "I think that people are a bit disturbed by the kind of images that started to appear from those evenings in Mr Berlusconi's villa." |
Bigger threat | Bigger threat |
But Mr Berlusconi has ridden out countless scandals and legal storms that would have sunk almost any other political career, and he will certainly survive "the Ruby case". | But Mr Berlusconi has ridden out countless scandals and legal storms that would have sunk almost any other political career, and he will certainly survive "the Ruby case". |
This judgement will have no immediate, practical impact. It was only the verdict of a lower court. Appeals against it could go on for years. | This judgement will have no immediate, practical impact. It was only the verdict of a lower court. Appeals against it could go on for years. |
Even if the sentence was eventually confirmed, a man of Mr Berlusconi's age would be extremely unlikely to go to prison for crimes like these in Italy. | Even if the sentence was eventually confirmed, a man of Mr Berlusconi's age would be extremely unlikely to go to prison for crimes like these in Italy. |
Much more serious for the former PM is another case that is fast reaching a conclusion. | Much more serious for the former PM is another case that is fast reaching a conclusion. |
This is an affair in which Mr Berlusconi has been convicted of tax evasion. | This is an affair in which Mr Berlusconi has been convicted of tax evasion. |
And if he cannot get the sentence overturned at a final appeal hearing he will be barred from holding any public office as soon as this autumn. | And if he cannot get the sentence overturned at a final appeal hearing he will be barred from holding any public office as soon as this autumn. |
He would see this as intolerable victory for those left-wing prosecutors who, he says, have schemed against him. | He would see this as intolerable victory for those left-wing prosecutors who, he says, have schemed against him. |
And there is intense speculation as to how Mr Berlusconi will manoeuvre to counter the looming threat. | And there is intense speculation as to how Mr Berlusconi will manoeuvre to counter the looming threat. |
The tensions surrounding this legal battle are already feeding into the political arena. | The tensions surrounding this legal battle are already feeding into the political arena. |
The veteran Berlusconi-watcher, Professor James Walston, of the American University of Rome wrote in his blog: "If they uphold his conviction... with its bar on his holding public office, then we will see Silvio Berlusconi slip from the statesman role to the rabble-rousing populist with uncertain and dangerous possibilities." | |
It is even possible to envisage a scenario in which the ructions might eventually bring down Italy's coalition government, of which the former prime minister's faction is a major part. | It is even possible to envisage a scenario in which the ructions might eventually bring down Italy's coalition government, of which the former prime minister's faction is a major part. |
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