Silvio Berlusconi. Photograph by Ricardo Stuckert/Abr
The two-year trial of Silvia Berlusconi has come to a close with a Milan court finding him guilty of paying for sex with a minor. The ex-Italian prime minister has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his actions at one of his “Bunga Bunga” parties and banned from holding public office for life.
Berlusconi was found guilty of paying for sex with Karima el-Mahroug, known as “Ruby”, when she was 17 years-old at a number of parties where aspiring showgirls dressed as religious and political figures were paid to strip for the guests. Ruby said she received an enevlope containing up to €3000 after each party, and later receiving €30,000 from Berlusconi to start a beauty salon.
Before he goes to jail, however, Berlusconi is appealing the decision, and he has a history of winning his appeals. By his own estimate, Berlusconi has been subject to around 105 probes and trials, 2,500 court hearings and spent more than 300 million euros in legal fees. He has avoided jail time to date for various reasons including the statute of limitations, an amnesty law, and even his own government decriminalising certain white collar crime, much to the disbelief of the judicial system.