An epilogue, as predicted by prosecutors, who for the first time a criminal offense decisions of a parliamentary categorizing them as tainted by corruption. “I take note of an absurd political decision at the end of a political process only built on a theorem accusatory laughable,” was the reaction of Berlusconi, while Prodi one that was injured was “democracy and not – he said – the my person. “
Berlusconi, as determined by the Court, would then corrupt between 2006 and 2008, then-Senator Sergio De Gregorio with three million euro, of which two are provided in cash through the intermediary of the former then director of Valter Lavitola. Purpose of the payment, so that De Gregorio, who was elected Italy of Values, passed to the deployment of the center and contributed to the fall of the Prodi government in the Senate who was standing on a narrow gap of votes.
An initiative that, according to evidence gathered by the pool of prosecutors – the prosecutor Vincenzo Piscitelli and Henry John Woodcock pm, Fabrizio and Alessandro Vanorio Milita – and according to statements by De Gregorio (released from the process with a plea bargain to one year and eight months in prison) was part of a wider plan of action to bring down the government of Romano Prodi, a plan that had a name: “Operation Freedom”.
It took six hours of deliberation to members of the first section of the Court of Naples headed by Serena Corleto for a verdict. A ruling granting the request of the Prosecutor, however, decreasing the amount of the penalty (three years compared to the five asked for the Knight and 4 years and 4 months to Lavitola) provides for the accused five years of disqualification from public office and condemns them jointly, together with Forza Italy, to pay damages, to be determined in civil proceedings in respect of the Senate, who claimed damages by the State Legal Service.
The verdict still not never become executive: sixth day of November – as they explained the defenders of Berlusconi’s lawyers Niccolo Ghedini and Michele Cerabona – the crime of corruption is in fact required. If you calculate the 90 days for the filing of reasons and 45 needed for the appeal, the appeal process will begin when everything is already covered by prescription. Although lawyers point out that propose appeal asking the courts of second instance an acquittal on the merits. “It’s a judgment that we blatantly unjust and unjustified”, has commented Ghedini.
The judges were called by the lawyers – as the lawyer Franco Coppi Bruno Larosa assist the responsible civil Forza Italy – also to rule on the question of the absolute immunity of the choices and the votes cast by MPs. To the prosecutor of Naples Giovanni Colangelo was not this the question disputed by prosecutors and addressed by the court: “I understand – said the prosecutor – that this judgment has shared the accusatory thesis.
The process involved a sensitive issue, which is not the absolute immunity of the parliamentary vote, but the conditioning of the vote. A vote cast for a fee and not for free political choice. The offense of corruption refers to the expression of the vote but not a promise to vote. ” “I take note of an absurd political decision – said Berlusconi – at the end of a political process only built on a theorem accusatory laughable.
Rest calm, sure that it always acted in the interest of my country and in full respect of the rules and laws, as well as continue to do. ” Berlusconi spoke of “judicial persecution” to damage his “image of the protagonist of the policy.” “There were rumors, but, as I said to the judge, I knew nothing. Had I known that I would still be prime minister, “said Romano Prodi, who explained that he had not made a witness” because – he said – I think it was the injured party democracy and not my person. ”
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