Berlusconi to go on trial: Italian judge to decide whether to indict former premier

Photo: Berlusconi to go on trial: Italian judge to decide whether to indict former premier

Berlusconi to go on trial: Italian judge to decide whether to indict former premier

Milan Judge Fabio Paparella had scheduled a preliminary hearing after prosecutors in Milan requested the court indict Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills.

Berlusconi is accused of ordering the payment in 1997 of at least US$600,000 (Ђ500,000) to Mills in exchange for the lawyer's false testimony in two trials against Berlusconi. Both men deny the allegations.

The hearing is not expected to yield a decision on the indictment as it will be largely devoted to procedural matters, Niccolo Ghedini, a lawyer for Berlusconi, has said.

If convicted, Mills and Berlusconi could be sentenced to between three and eight years in prison, prosecutors have said.

Berlusconi has a long history of legal troubles linked to his business interests based in Milan.

In past cases, he was either acquitted or cleared of the charges because the statute of limitations had expired. He has always maintained his innocence, the AP reports.

Mills is married to British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell. They formally separated last March.