Berlusconi dismisses charges at fraud trial
Source: Agencies |
April 12, 2011, Tuesday
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ITALIAN Premier Silvio Berlusconi made a rare appearance in open court yesterday but left after about two and a half hours, saying the hearing at his tax fraud trial was a waste of time and accusing prosecutors of having no case against him.
In court, Berlusconi sat in the front row next to his lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, while three witnesses provided testimony on the purchase of rights for Italian TV.
While he did not address the court, Berlusconi made off-the-cuff remarks to reporters before the hearing and during a break, and stopped outside to thank dozens of supporters and political allies who were cheering beneath half a dozen huge blue balloons reading "Silvio resist."
"I've spent a surreal morning, a paradoxical waste of time and a waste of resources," Berlusconi said before leaving. "There is no proof, no documents, no testimony, no money trail that supports the prosecutors' thesis."
The Italian leader has declared that he will appear in the Milan tribunal as frequently as duties allow to contest four active court cases against him.
Speaking to reporters earlier, he was in combative mood. "These charges are laughable, unfounded and demented," he said. He called the charges "the invention of the public prosecutor."
Prosecutors say Berlusconi's Mediaset media empire purchased TV rights for US movies through two offshore companies and falsely declared the costs to reduce its tax bill. Ten others are also charged in the case.
Berlusconi attended a closed-door preliminary hearing on March 28 in another alleged tax fraud case also involving the purchase of TV rights to broadcast American films. But he had last showed up in open court for a trial eight years ago.
In court, Berlusconi sat in the front row next to his lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, while three witnesses provided testimony on the purchase of rights for Italian TV.
While he did not address the court, Berlusconi made off-the-cuff remarks to reporters before the hearing and during a break, and stopped outside to thank dozens of supporters and political allies who were cheering beneath half a dozen huge blue balloons reading "Silvio resist."
"I've spent a surreal morning, a paradoxical waste of time and a waste of resources," Berlusconi said before leaving. "There is no proof, no documents, no testimony, no money trail that supports the prosecutors' thesis."
The Italian leader has declared that he will appear in the Milan tribunal as frequently as duties allow to contest four active court cases against him.
Speaking to reporters earlier, he was in combative mood. "These charges are laughable, unfounded and demented," he said. He called the charges "the invention of the public prosecutor."
Prosecutors say Berlusconi's Mediaset media empire purchased TV rights for US movies through two offshore companies and falsely declared the costs to reduce its tax bill. Ten others are also charged in the case.
Berlusconi attended a closed-door preliminary hearing on March 28 in another alleged tax fraud case also involving the purchase of TV rights to broadcast American films. But he had last showed up in open court for a trial eight years ago.
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