Berlusconi in court for first time in eight years

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi returned to court for the first time in eight years on the 28 March 2011, attending a pretrial hearing in Milan in connection with an alleged case of tax fraud and embezzlement, which he dismissed as 'ridiculous and groundless'.

Mr Berlusconi was already involved in three other cases that have reached the stage of full trials. On 6 April 2011 he was due to face charges of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of office. Other trials under way involved his alleged bribing of David Mills, his former UK lawyer, and alleged tax fraud by his Mediaset company. He denied all charges.

Deutsche Welle, 11.4.11: Defiant Berlusconi appears in court to fight tax fraud charges http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14980999,00.html

La Repubblica, 31.3.11: New law made to measure for Berlusconi (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/577421-new-law-made-measure-berlusconi

ESO: Background information: Berlusconi back on trial as legal woes mount http://www.europeansources.info/record/berlusconi-back-on-trial-as-legal-woes-mount/

France24, 28.3.11: Berlusconi makes rare court appearance for fraud case http://www.france24.com/en/20110328-italy-berlusconi-rare-court-appearance-tax-fraud-milan-mediaset

Deutsche Welle, 28.3.11: Berlusconi makes rare appearance in court for fraud case hearing http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14949223,00.html

BBC News, 28.3.11: Italy PM Berlusconi in first trial showing since 2003 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12877250

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