Europe News
New hearing in Berlusconi tax fraud trial
Sep 26, 2011, 8:26 GMT
Milan, Italy - A hearing was set to take place later Monday in a tax fraud trial against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and linked to the dealings of his media empire.
It was not immediately clear whether the premier would attend the hearing to be held in Milan.
Prosecutors allege the media magnate-turned-politician and executives of his private broadcaster, Mediaset, inflated the price paid for acquiring television rights via offshore companies controlled by Berlusconi in order to falsely declare smaller revenues.
Berlusconi and his co-accused deny any wrongdoing.
The trial - one of four currently involving Berlusconi - was suspended last year following the introduction of a law allowing the premier to avoid court appearances on account of his government duties. But in January, Italy's Constitutional Court struck down part of the provision.
