Ex-Italian PM Berlusconi sentenced to prison

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was sentenced Friday to four years in prison for tax evasion, but is very likely to appeal the Milan court's ruling.

His trial, which also involved executives from Berlusconi's Mediaset television group and the head of a Swiss bank, concerned the purchase of TV rights for films which were then resold within the group at inflated prices.

Prosecutors said the scheme, involving about 3,000 American films, allowed those involved to avoid a major tax bill. They may have to pay a fine of up to €10 million ($12.9 million), if the court's ruling is upheld.

Under the Italian legal system, Berlusconi and his fellow defendants have the right to appeal their sentence twice, in the appeal court and a higher court.

Also, because the case dates back to July 2006, the statute of limitations will expire next year, meaning there is a good chance that none of the defendants will serve any prison time.

Berlusconi, 76, resigned as prime minister last November amid his country's debt crisis, bringing to an apparent end an 18-year era in which he dominated Italian politics.

He had survived a series of political, corruption and sex scandals over the years, involving allegations of embezzlement, tax fraud and bribery.

He also currently faces trial on charges that he hired an underage prostitute and later tried to pull strings to get her out of jail when she was arrested for theft.

The woman involved in the long-running case is the Moroccan dancer Karima el Mahroug, nicknamed "Ruby the Heart-stealer."

American movie star George Clooney had been expected to appear Friday as a defense witness in that case but did not show up. The actor's representative said he would not now be serving as a witness for Berlusconi.

[CNN]