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ITALY’S CONSTITUTIONAL COURT today rejected a claim by former premier Silvio Berlusconi which the billionaire had hoped would block a trial against him which could see him booted out of politics.
Berlusconi had argued that a Milan tribunal had acted unjustly by refusing to reschedule a fraud trial hearing in March 2010, despite his claim that he was busy with governmental business.
An appeals court in May had upheld a one year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office for the magnate, but the case could have collapsed if the tribunal had been found guilty of preventing Berlusconi from having every opportunity to defend himself.
Statute of limitations
The trial risked being thrown out and begun again from scratch — a move which would have made it almost certain to expire in 2014 under Italy’s statute of limitations without a final verdict.
The constitutional court, however, ruled that Berlusconi’s excuse for being absent was not valid as he had purposely brought forward a meeting which did not have to be held at that time.
“They are trying to eliminate me from political life but I’m forging ahead,” said Berlusconi, who has long held a grudge against “Communist” judges in Italy who he claims are out to persecute him.
The fraud case revolves around prices of film distribution rights bought by the media magnate’s company Mediaset that were artificially inflated in order to avoid taxes.
With Berlusconi’s claim rejected, it will now go to Italy’s highest court of appeals later this year.
Trial over alleged underage sex
The 76-year-old is also a defendant in a trial for having sex with an underage 17-year-old girl who was working as a prostitute while he was still prime minister, and then abusing the powers of his office by putting pressure on police to release her from custody.
A verdict in that case is expected on Monday.
Italy’s constitutional court on Wednesday rejected a claim by former premier Silvio Berlusconi which the billionaire had hoped would block a trial against him which could see him booted out of politics.
Berlusconi had argued that a Milan tribunal had acted unjustly by refusing to reschedule a fraud trial hearing in March 2010, despite his claim that he was busy with governmental business.
An appeals court in May had upheld a one year prison sentence and a five-year ban from public office for the magnate, but the case could have collapsed if the tribunal had been found guilty of preventing Berlusconi from having every opportunity to defend himself.
The trial risked being thrown out and begun again from scratch — a move which would have made it almost certain to expire in 2014 under Italy’s statute of limitations without a final verdict.
The constitutional court, however, ruled that Berlusconi’s excuse for being absent was not valid as he had purposely brought forward a meeting which did not have to be held at that time.
Italy’s highest court of appeals
“They are trying to eliminate me from political life but I’m forging ahead,” said Berlusconi, who has long held a grudge against “Communist” judges in Italy who he claims are out to persecute him.
The fraud case revolves around prices of film distribution rights bought by the media magnate’s company Mediaset that were artificially inflated in order to avoid taxes.
With Berlusconi’s claim rejected, it will now go to Italy’s highest court of appeals later this year.
The 76-year-old is also a defendant in a trial for having sex with an underage 17-year-old prostitute while he was still prime minister, and then abusing the powers of his office by putting pressure on police to release her from custody.
A verdict in that case is expected on Monday.
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Rather than importing working, how great would it be to train Irish people to do these jobs, maybe even pay them a decent living wage.
@Munster1: The majority of people in ‘these jobs’ are Irish and wages vary greatly depending on who you work for, outside of HSE directly.
@Munster1: IT is one of the biggest industries in Ireland. It is known for it. Schools do not even teach IT or Computer studies (or not all of them). These are some of the highest paid jobs, and filled with migrants.
@Munster1: they routinely screen out Irish applicants. Their preference is for poor migrants.
Will we ever see an anti immigrant anti asylum seekers article in the Journal. Such an article would demonstrate Irish journalism commitment to free speech and open robust debate
@Richard Russell: I am an immigrant and quite frankly the Irish migrant policies are mad. There is none, no planning, no objectives. Other than lets get as many in. Not talking about asylum seekers as such, more eg migrants from non EU countries, coming in to do a masters and then stay, get spouse over asap and get pregnant asap so that children born here, 1000s every year.. I can understand individual migrants wanting to come over, but what I do not get is that it never been a topic to discuss during elections in in public debate. Irish people shy away from it, that is so unhealthy. Since fabric Irish society is changing rapidly and no one discusses it. Maybe it is changing for the better, but maybe not….
@Richard Russell: short answer: no. long answer: never.
The neo liberal wet dream, an unlimited pool of cheap migrant labour that will be used to keep wages down.
If you ask for better wages and conditions , you’ll soon be told that they can get someone from abroad who will replace you at half the cost.
@roscommonrebel: it is what the EU is about. Max migration, dilute local gen pool, with ultimate objective of getting rid of national sovereign states. All power to Brussels…..
Unfortunately, the reality is the state doesn’t value anyone, Irish or otherwise. Irish carers are incredibly undervalued too. On a seperate note and I know this is harsh, the idea of this section of society who require care being used as a pawn for all migrants to extend student visas to work visas seems a bit unscrupulous. They knew the rules of the visa they applied for.
Thank you Maeve for detailing the very important and caring work that specialised migrant workers help us in our health services.
So the studying is just a cover to come to work in a profession there isn’t any shortage of people at EU level … it seems the employers do not offer fair and within regulations work conditions to the carers such a provision of company car to go to multi- sites and the guarantee their employees have the mandatory minimum level of English to communicate with the customers
So we have people with visa to study English working in a profession that is mandatory a minimum level of English. In the health sector the minimum level of English is the highest level of English examinations
What put off more to the EU qualified carers and nurses to come here is their years of experience are never acknowledge, their paid is deducted for “being on training” and then the English exams to prove their ability to communicate effectively with the patients
The rest of EU professionals and traders, their experience is acknowledged by employers and professionals bodies.
Should be allowed stay, a credit to Brazil and I’d be happy for him to stay here.
And therein lies part of the problem as the govt says that most of the public/civil service can work from home when their databases cannot be accessed at home due to security issues,
@Noel O’Neill: Not sure what this has to do with the article above at all, also it’s completely untrue – staff who can work from home (the vast majority) do so over encrypted VPN, while any staff that cannot perform their duties remotely for whatever reason still attend their place of work in person. I trust that alleviates your concerns.
A lot of middlemen make money in this sector which is a waste of money. It would be better if the HSE didn’t lease this out to private companies. I suppose the concern is they would unionise and demand a living wage.
Today, Ireland treats migrants as prisoners. They cannot leave without a huge tax/fine, they cannot see family unlike those that have family in Ireland. Irelands school system is a joke. One of its highest paid industies is IT, but computer studies is not even taught as a subject in school (or not every school). Ireland still teaches woodwork – but not IT. The pandemic has brought out the worst in Ireland – locking itself away from the rest of the world – or demaning to be locked away. Continue these isolationist policies like border controls and covid tests at 100 a pop and migrants will leave, quaranteen will speed this up. They Ireland will be in serious trouble.
@Tony Humphreys: ? I am a migrant. Am not treated as prisoner at all. What on earth are you on about?
They were heros when ireland’s sick and elderly needed them and this should be recognised. They continued to work during pandemic even though those working in nursing homes are poorly paid and i will always be grateful to them. My mum is treated so kindly in her nursing home and we should do the right thing
have your say