Berlusconi’s bribery trial to resume in March

MILAN - A trial in which Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is accused of bribing his former tax lawyer is to resume March 11, judicial officials said Tuesday.

The trial was suspended last year following a law enacted by Italy’s conservative government which allowed Berlusconi to avoid appearing in court because of his duties as premier.

However last month, Italy’s constitutional court in part invalidated the so-called “legitimate impediment” clause, paving the way for the resumption of the trial.

The case sees media-magnate Berlusconi accused of paying his former tax lawyer, British national David Mills, $600,000 to give false evidence in two trials in the 1990s.

Mills, who was tried separately, had his four-and-a-half prison sentence overturned on appeal - on statute of limitations grounds - in February 2010.

Both Berlusconi and Mills deny any wrongdoing.

Earlier Tuesday prosecutors in Milan announced that on Wednesday they will submit a request for Berlusconi to stand trial on underage prostitution and abuse of power charges.

The underage prostitution allegations stem from evidence, including wire tappings, which suggests Berlusconi paid several women for sex, including at least one minor - a Moroccan go-go dancer who was 17 when she first attended a party at Berlusconi’s house.

Berlusconi has denied having sex with the woman, Karima El Mahroug, but has confirmed he intervened on her behalf when she was held briefly by police on suspicion of theft in May.

Berlusconi reportedly told police to release El Mahroug by claiming she was the niece of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak - a move prosecutors say is abuse of his position as premier.

Prosecutors were still considering whether to include abuse of power charges in their request to judges.

Berlusconi, who denies any wrongdoing, has repeatedly accused “leftists” prosecutors of plotting against him.

A request for Berlusconi to stand trial would have to be approved by Italy’s lower house parliament, where the premier enjoys only a wafer-thin majority.