By David Sophrin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
ROME, Italy – Italian prosecutors on Friday began legal proceedings to request a indictment against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his son for embezzlement and tax fraud that relates to an ongoing legal battle involving some of the country’s largest media corporations.
The indictment suggests that Mediatrade, an Italian media corporation, purchased the rights to American television programs and films, during the time period of 2002 to 2005 at inflated prices, and embezzled the profits of that inflation. According to the prosecutors, the excess embezzled funds were placed into a slush fund. The charges of tax fraud, which allegedly took place between 2005 and 2009, are also associated with these actions. Since Mediatrade was originally founded and owned by Berlusconi, and has family still controls the company, the prosecutors believe that he is still its ‘de facto’ leader and therefore bears some of the responsibility for its allegedly illegal actions.
The indictment request was filed by two prosecutors, Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro, in the northern city of Milan to Judge Marina Zelante.
Even if the judge grants the prosecutors request, the recently passed federal shield law would apply and thereby delay the legal action for up to 18 months. The law provides temporary immunity for the Prime Minister and his ministers. Supporters of the legislation argued that the shield law was necessary because potential legal actions would this officials would be a ‘legitimate impediment’ to the responsibilities of their offices.
This shield law was enacted following a decision by Italian Supreme Court, which last year ruled that another immunity law that had been supported by Berlusconi and provided him with permanent protection from any charges brought against him, was unconstitutional.
For more information, please see:
ANSA – Berlusconi Indictment Sought – 9 April, 2010
RTE – Berlusconi could stand trial over TV rights – 9 April, 2010
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Berlusconi Faces Call to Stand Trial – 9 April, 2010
