Milan, Italy
Milan prosecutors have Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in their sights—yet again. The billionaire media mogul, Italy’s richest man, has been charged with fraud and conflict of interest numerous times, both before and during his tenure in office. He was acquitted once, and had three guilty verdicts overturned on technicalities; other times he managed to draw out proceedings so long that the statute of limitations expired. Prosecutors are now alleging that he bribed the husband of a British Cabinet minister to lie on Berlusconi’s behalf in two of his trials. Berlusconi, who is seeking re-election next month, said he is being persecuted by a conspiracy of Communist magistrates. The judiciary is “the disease of our democracy,” he said.
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