Berlusconi on Trial

The end of Berlusconi’s political career is a huge loss to the Sociology of Crime and Deviance – he was probably the best living example of an elite criminal in Western Europe (obviously outdone by several premieres in Eastern Europe and Africa!) – and a terrific example of how elites can dodge prosecution for their (ok – alleged) criminal activity.

According to Wikipedia, (I know, lame, sorry!) during his time in office, Silvio Berlusconi picked up an extensive record of criminal allegations, including

  • Mafia collusion,
  • False accounting
  • tax fraud
  • Corruption and
  • Bribery of police officers and judges.
  • He also stands accused of paying a minor for sex at one of his ‘Bunga Bunga’ parties

Berlusconi has been tried in Italian courts in several cases. In three of these cases accusations were dropped by the judiciary because of laws passed by Berlusconi’s parliamentary majority shortening the time limit for prosecution of various offences and making false accounting illegal only if there is a specific damaged party reporting the fact to the authorities.

A few stats give an example on his colorful career

  • 789 prosecutors and magistrates took an interest in the politician Berlusconi from 1994 to 2006
  • He has had 577 visits by police and 2,500 court hearings
  • 174 million euros in lawyers’ bills – paid by him!

According to the Week, Berlusconi now faces back to back hearings until Christmas – as he now no longer enjoys the right to avoid trials as he did as PM It will be interesting to see in coming months if Berlusconi’s long overdue fall from political grace affects his ability to dodge prosecution into the New Year.

You might like these clips – Although I’m sure any allussions to Berlusconi are entirely coincidental….

 

 

 

 

humour aside, you also might like to think about the following – in the grand scheme of things what’s worse – The sum total of Berlusconi’s Crimes (one man committing crime) or what some might call the organised state crime of politicians voting in the Goldman Sach’s advisor (now stepped down, but I’m sure the ties remain) Mario Monti without the democratic consent of the Italian people