Berlusconi sentenced to community service for tax fraud

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 77, must spend at least four hours a week in the service of the elderly to repay society for his tax fraud conviction, the first sentence against him ever confirmed by Italy's highest court.

The court stipulated that Berlusconi must remain for the most of his time in the Lombard region, where he lives, but granted permission to travel to Rome from Tuesday to Thursday each week. He must spend at least four straight hours one day a week at an elderly center, the court said. The document did not identify the center, or specify what Berlusconi would do there.

Berlusconi was sentenced to four years for tax fraud, reduced to one year for a general amnesty. The one-year community service order may eventually be reduced by 45 days. His lawyers, who petitioned for community service rather than the even more restrictive house arrest, called the decision "balanced."

The one-year assignment, announced by a Milan court on Tuesday, curtails Berlusconi's ability to participate in the upcoming European election campaign — a point of contention among his political allies. The three-time former premier cannot run due to the conviction, but remains a political force as head of Forza Italia. 

The state prosecutor supported the petition for community service, but asked the court to consider revoking it if Berlusconi insults judges while serving — something he has frequently done as he has fought numerous prosecutions over the years, mostly related to his business dealings.

Berlusconi is also currently involved in two other court cases.

In a trial set to start on June 20, he will appeal a seven-year prison sentence and lifetime ban from parliament for having sex with an underage 17-year-old prostitute and abusing his official powers.

He is also a defendant in a trial for allegedly paying a $4 million bribe to get a center-left senator to join his party in 2006 in a move that helped bring down a rival government.

Wire services