An Italian court sentenced ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to one year in jail over the publication by his family’s newspaper of a transcript of a leaked wiretap connected to a banking scandal in 2006.

ITALIAN prime minister Silvio Berlusconi slammed judges as “a cancer of democracy” during his first appearance at a trial for bribery, one of three court cases he is currently facing.

ITALIAN prime minister Silvio Berlusconi made a rare court appearance yesterday, greeting throngs of supporters gathered outside the courthouse following a closed-door hearing in a tax fraud case he has dismissed as groundless.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi made a rare court appearance today, greeting supporters who gathered outside a closed-door hearing in a tax fraud case.

ITALIAN prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is expected to attend a court hearing today over allegations of breach of trust in his business interests.