Berlusconi sentenced to 7 years for paying for prostitution

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister and head of the main coalition partner in the current government, was found guilty of paying for prostitution with an underage prostitute, nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, and banned from public office for life at Milan court. The verdict was read out by the panel of three judges at the end of his trial in Milan lasting more than two years and focusing on “bunga bunga” parties where the prosecution argued the former premier had an organised prostitution network at his service. However, Berlusconi had always denied the charges and was certain to appeal against the verdict. In Italy, such sentences are only enforced once they are made definitive – a process that can take years.