Berlusconi sentenced to community service over tax fraud

For once, Silvo Berlusconi might have reason to feel that the Milan judiciary has been easy on him. Much as expected, a Milan court yesterday ruled that the former prime minister, who was sentenced last year for having organised a massive tax fraud by his Mediaset TV company, may serve out his “time”, doing once weekly “community service” in a nursing home.

At stake for 77-year-old Berlusconi was his political agibilit à – his ability to play a part in the forthcoming European election campaign.

Even though he has been expelled from the Italian Senate because of his tax fraud conviction and therefore cannot himself contest the elections, he still intends to play a prominent role in his Forza Italia party campaign.

Had the court so wished, it could have sentenced him to house arrest yesterday, thus effectively ruling him out of the campaign since the terms of house arrest impose an almost total restriction of movement, unlike community service.

Given his age, Berlusconi could not be imprisoned for this type of fiscal crime, thanks to legislation passed by one of his own governments.

Thus, for at least four hours a week for the next 10 months, Berlusconi will help out at the Sacra Famigilia old people’s home in Cesano Boscone, some 40km up the road in the Milanese hinterland from his Villa San Martino residence in Arcore.

It is not yet clear precisely what he will be required to do but the director of the home, Dr Paolo Pigni, said yesterday that he will not be asked to perform any of the tasks normally undertaken by the full time staff.

In other words, he will be asked to provide some form of complementary service for the elderly residents. This may involve talking to them or could even see him take to the piano to play and sing for them.

The Sacra Famiglia home, situated in the 18th-century Villa Sormani, is for people over 65 years old, many of whom suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or have greatly limited mobility.

Sentence terms
Under the terms of yesterday's sentence, Berlusconi has been granted relative mobility in that he is free to spend Tuesday through to Thursday in Rome. During those three days in the capital, he may move about as he wishes, thus allowing him to play a full role in the Forza Italia campaign.

Mediaset has been a source of worry for Berlusconi in recent times. Earlier this week, it was revealed that his own annual income had fallen 87 per cent in 2013, from €35.4 million to €4.5 million largely because of the low stock price and poor dividend yielded by Mediaset last year.

Intriguingly, yesterday's sentence came on the morning after Berlusconi had had a late night meeting at government house with current prime minister Matteo Renzi, prompting M5S protest leader Beppe Grillo to accuse both men of a conspiracy.