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Italian Senate Passes Bill to Shorten Trials...

...and, conveniently, end corruption cases against Berlusconi

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 20, 2010 3:46 PM CST
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(Newser) – Italy’s Senate today gave the green light to a bill that critics say is designed to quash the pending criminal cases against Silvio Berlusconi. The prime minister’s ample Senate majority passed the so-called “short trial” bill 163 to 130. The bill aims to speed up Italy’s ponderous justice system by putting a 6-1/2 to 10-year time limit on the legal process, depending on the severity of the crime.

Any defendant who has to wait longer than that for his final appeal is automatically acquitted. Since the law applies retroactively, that would include Berlusconi, who has long faced corruption and tax evasion charges. Berlusconi says the time limits should be even shorter, likening the Italian justice system to Dante’s Inferno. From here, the bill goes to the legislature’s lower house, where, according to Reuters, it will almost certainly pass.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi arrives at his private residence for a meeting with his allies on possible tax and justice reforms, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi arrives at his private residence for a meeting with his allies on possible tax and justice reforms, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
matteo
Jan 21, 2010 11:23 AM CST
ok the story is like this, public officials are voted in italy but judges have been of the same inclination communists) for decades which gives them more power than any politician even though they have not been voted by the people....there is no justice and people are fed up...this also affects investments in italy since international companies have very little protection if none at all !! this has nothing to do with the PM but its the only thing the left can say instead of finding solutions for the country ....like anywhere in the world the choice is not whats bests but what is the least harmful and the current govt. is far less harmful than any alternative...
myvoice
Jan 20, 2010 9:59 AM CST
And we think our congress is an effing mess! So now there is going to be even more innocent people in prison in Italy. Forcing investigators to move quicker to find the criminals is the problem already.

 
Italy • Silvio Berlusconi • corruption charges

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