UK connection casts dark shadows over Berlusconi poll battle (bribery?)

[phoebe]

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/8a4f5a5a-a347-11da-ba72-0000779e2340.html

snip

Silvio Berlusconi's relationship with David Mills, a corporate lawyer and the husband of Tessa Jowell, culture secretary in Tony Blair's cabinet, has become an issue in the Italian prime minister's campaign for re-election.


Mr Berlusconi's opponents are demanding his resignation because prosecutors suspect him of bribing Mr Mills with £400,000 ($697,840 €585,640) to give false testimony in two trials in which the premier was cleared of corruption charges.

snip

Mr Mills created Publitalia International in the UK for Fininvest in 1985. He signed the form appointing Marcello Dell'Utri, one of Mr Berlusconi's closest business and political partners, as a director. Mr Dell'Utri was convicted in December 2004 of associating with the mafia, and is appealing against a nine-year sentence.

snip

In a letter obtained by prosecutors in 2004, and whose authenticity Mr Mills has confirmed, the lawyer wrote to accountants: "The way in which I had been able to give my evidence (I told no lies, but I turned some very tricky corners, to put it mildly) had kept Mr B out of a great deal of trouble that I would have landed him in if I had said all I knew." Mr Mills now says the letter had nothing to do with Mr Berlusconi but was a scenario invented on behalf of another client.

Wonder what Berlusconi will do to "fix" these upcoming elections? Rather think we'll have another left-wing government coming soon to a European country near you!

[kenny blankenship]

1. $697,840 ?

what was the $40 for?

[phoebe]

2. petrol for the getaway car?

n/t

[kenny blankenship]

3. That's probably it; I was thinking self-addressed stamped envelopes

Dear Sil: here's where to send the moolah, don't be late!

[phoebe]

4. then again, maybe it was to pay the "scriptwriter" for that "invented

story on behalf of another client"..