Berlusconi extortion

Italian police have arrested six people accused of trying to extort ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi for €35m in exchange for documents they claimed could help him in a legal case.

Milan police squad chief Alessandro Giuliano said three of the six had held one of Berlusconi’s closest advisers hostage for 11 hours in his home last month until he reached Berlusconi by phone to demand the money.

Berlusconi’s attorney, Nicolo Ghedini, told reporters he spoke to the hostage-takers that day and refused to give them any money until he saw the documents. Apparently that’s all that was needed to free Berlusconi’s treasurer, Giuseppe Spinelli.