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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mills guilty of accepting bribe | Mills guilty of accepting bribe |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An Italian court has found British tax lawyer David Mills guilty of accepting a bribe of about £400,000 and sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison. | An Italian court has found British tax lawyer David Mills guilty of accepting a bribe of about £400,000 and sentenced him to four-and-a-half years in prison. |
| The prosecution claims the bribe was paid by the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. | The prosecution claims the bribe was paid by the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. |
| He denies that claim, and was removed from the case after passing a law making himself immune from prosecution. | He denies that claim, and was removed from the case after passing a law making himself immune from prosecution. |
| Mr Mills, the estranged husband of UK minister Tessa Jowell, was not in court and is expected to appeal. | Mr Mills, the estranged husband of UK minister Tessa Jowell, was not in court and is expected to appeal. |
| Mr Mills said he was "very disappointed" at the sentence delivered in a Milan court. | |
| He had accepted the money in return for giving false testimony in two corruption trials involving the Italian prime minister, the court heard. | |
| Prosecutors say Mr Mills used the money to help pay off a joint mortgage he held with his wife of the time, the British Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell. | Prosecutors say Mr Mills used the money to help pay off a joint mortgage he held with his wife of the time, the British Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell. |
| Ms Jowell was cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation by UK parliamentary officials. | Ms Jowell was cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation by UK parliamentary officials. |
| False evidence | |
| Mr Mills was one of Mr Berlusconi's consultants on offshore tax havens. | Mr Mills was one of Mr Berlusconi's consultants on offshore tax havens. |
| The prosecution alleged Mr Berlusconi paid Mr Mills for not revealing details of offshore companies during two previous trials in 1997 and 1998, in which the lawyer gave evidence as an expert witness. | The prosecution alleged Mr Berlusconi paid Mr Mills for not revealing details of offshore companies during two previous trials in 1997 and 1998, in which the lawyer gave evidence as an expert witness. |
| Mr Berlusconi introduced an immunity law soon after taking office in 2008 | |
| Mr Mills initially admitted having received money from Mr Berlusconi "in recognition" of the evidence he gave, but later said the money had come from someone else. | Mr Mills initially admitted having received money from Mr Berlusconi "in recognition" of the evidence he gave, but later said the money had come from someone else. |
| Mr Berlusconi has denied making any such payment to David Mills. | Mr Berlusconi has denied making any such payment to David Mills. |
| After being swept into power for a third time last April, Mr Berlusconi proposed a controversial law granting legal immunity to the four most senior office holders in Italy, which includes the post of prime minister. | |
| The bill was passed by both houses of parliament, with supporters arguing that the amendment was needed to allow the top state officials to focus on doing their jobs without legal distraction. | |
| When he leaves office, Mr Berlusconi may become subject to the charges again, as long as they have not expired under Italy's statute of limitations. |