Posted on 03/10/2006 3:31:07 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
ITALIAN prosecutors are set to lay corruption charges against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the lawyer husband of a British Cabinet minister, the Italian press reported today.
Several newspapers said the Milan prosecutor's office had yesterday rejected requests by lawyers for the two men for more information on the probe.
If accepted, the requests would have delayed any charges. They relate to an alleged bribe to David Mills, the British lawyer, in return for him providing favourable testimony at corruption trials involving Berlusconi.
"They didn't accept anything, which means they want to bring it to court at all costs," the daily Corriere della Sera quoted Niccolo Ghedini, a laywer for Mr Berlusconi, as saying.
Newspapers including Corriere, La Repubblica and La Stampa said the charges could be laid "within days, perhaps even today."
A judge would then decide whether to endorse sending the case to court.
Prosecutors concluded their investigation on February 16 and in theory have 20 days in which to send the case to a tribunal.
According to the dailies, prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to show that in 1997 a payment of $US600,000 from a Berlusconi company to a Mills bank account was in return for the latter testifying on behalf of the Italian tycoon.
Both Mr Berlusconi and Mr Mills deny the allegations, but the case has caused a political scandal in Britain because Mr Mills is the husband of Tessa Jowell, who sits in Cabinet as culture secretary and is a key ally of Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The funds, which Mr Mills says came from a shipowner, were used to pay off a mortgage on a house that Mr Mills and Ms Jowell shared in north London after passing through a number of bank accounts.
Ms Jowell and Mr Mills announced their separation last weekend.
Knowing the the current sentiment in Italy I am not so sure.
I thought if you aren't a crook in Italian politics you're doomed!
"The Italian Job III".
Italy has these super prosecutors who go after corruption and it seems like this move on Berlusconi is an attempt to hurt him right before the election.
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