Bribery conviction for Berlusconi's friend

An Italian court yesterday sentenced a friend of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to five years in jail for corruption but cleared him of a key accusation that has also been levelled against the prime minister. Cesare Previti, a former defence minister who had been on trial for three years, was convicted on charges of paying a $434,000 bribe to a Rome judge in 1991. But he was acquitted on another charge related to the privatisation of food company SME in the 1980s.

Prosecutors in Milan had asked for an 11-year term against Previti. He and Berlusconi have both denied the charges and said they are the victims of a politically motivated campaign. Berlusconi faced the same charges until parliament passed an immunity law for the prime minister and other top officials earlier this year, shortly before Italy took over the rotating presidency of the European Union.

The law, whose constitutionality is being challenged, split off Berlusconi's case from Previti and the others charged. Berlusconi said he was certain of Previti's innocence. Previti said he was pleased with his acquittal on the charge related to SME.

Berlusconi's lawyers said the Previti verdict was meaningless for the prime minister.