Ruby case: Silvio Berlusconi wins appeal against conviction

Silvio Berlusconi has won an appeal against his conviction for paying an underage prostitute.

The seven-year prison sentence has now been thrown out by judges in Milan, in the so-called “Ruby” case.

Last year a court found that Italy’s former prime minister had paid for s** with 17-year-old nightclub dancer Karima El-Mahroug known as “Ruby the Heartstealer”.

Silvio Berlusconi, 77, is doing community service after being sentenced for tax fraud.

That was a separate case involving his business empire Mediaset.

Silvio Berlusconi helps out once a week at a home for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

He began doing that service in May – and so far it is the only final judgment against him, despite various other court cases.

In the Ruby case both Silvio Berlusconi and Karima El-Mahroug denied having had s**.

During the trial reports emerged of “bunga-bunga” parties at his private villa attended by showgirls. Some of the female guests however described them as “elegant dinner parties”.

Silvio Berlusconi was also acquitted of a charge that he abused his prime ministerial powers by pressuring the police to free Karima El-Mahroug when she was in custody.

In another separate case Silvio Berlusconi is accused of having bribed a senator.

Silvio Berlusconi was banned from holding political office for two years and expelled from the Senate.

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