Berlusconi banned from Public office for two years

Rome: An Italian court on Saturday banned former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from holding public office for two years following a conviction for tax fraud, a news agency reported.

The tax fraud conviction was the first final verdict for Berlusconi in two decades of legal battle. It also included a jail term which was reduced from four years to one year. Berlusconi has filed a request in the Milan court to do one year of social work rather than house arrest to serve the verdict.

The Senate is expected to vote next week whether to expel the 77-year-old former prime minister following the verdict. The three-time premier and media tycoon is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights.