Berlusconi, who resigned in November beset by scandals and financial market turmoil, is already facing three separate trials.
Silvio Berlusconi is to stand trial next month on charges of revealing confidential information in a case related to a 2005 banking scandal, adding to a string of legal woes, the former prime minister’s lawyer said today.
Berlusconi, who resigned in November beset by scandals and financial market turmoil, is already facing three separate trials on charges including corruption, tax fraud and paying for sex with an underage prostitute.
«All as expected. We’ve lost count of the number of trials,» said Berlusconi’s lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini. The trial will start on March 15.
The latest case stems from allegations that Berlusconi pushed for the publication in a newspaper owned by his brother of a recorded conversation that should have remained secret because of an ongoing investigation.
The conversation took place at the time of insurer Unipol’s bid for a bank, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, in 2005, which later fell through and triggered an investigation for possible financial crimes by some of the dealmakers.
In the phone call Piero Fassino, then Berlusconi’s main political rival as leader of the biggest centre-left party, can be heard asking the head of Unipol: «So, do we own a bank?”
The conversation did not suggest that the politician committed a crime, but it was kept by prosecutors investigating possible inappropriate interference in the case and was heard by the then prime minister.
Berlusconi is accused of pushing for Il Giornale daily to publish the transcript to damage the centre left.
He denies any wrongdoing and accuses politically biased magistrates of waging a campaign against him.
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