Silvio Berlusconi and Arcore pianist Danilo Mariani acquitted because the fact does not exist in the Ruby ter trial in Siena
where they were accused of corruption in judicial acts.
This is the court ruling after about an hour in the council chamber.
"Great result, both acquitted with full formula: I
am really happy. Not surprised: it is the right epilogue of this process that perhaps should have stopped a little earlier". Thus' one of Silvio Berlusconi's lawyers, Enrico De Martino, at the end of the Ruby ter trial at the Siena court. The leader of Fi was acquitted as well as the pianist of Arcore Danilo Mariani of the accusation of corruption in judicial acts.
"I heard Berlusconi a little while ago, he is obviously relieved and satisfied"
. The lawyer Federico Cecconi, one of the Cavaliere's lawyers, told reporters after the court of Siena acquitted the former premier of corruption charges in judicial acts.
Today's ruling has indeed come as a bit of a surprise. Just yesterday the defense of the Knight, at the Milanese trial again for the Ruby ter proceeding, had explained that he believed that today's hearing in the city of the Palio was "a hearing of a technical nature", considered precisely the 'debut' of the new judges.
Instead, they went straight: they rejected Berlusconi's defense request to hear three other texts - the accountant Giuseppe Spinelli, Berlusconi's accountant, the musician Mariano Apicella and Mariani's wife, Simonetta Losi - declaring the investigation closed. And when the defense of the former premier anticipated the intention to present a petition for recusal of the court, the panel decided to go ahead not considering that "the mere existence of a statement of recusal could entail the inability of the judge to proceed further in the discussion ". Thus, after hearing the conclusions of the parties, they retired to the council chamber before 5.30 pm. Just over an hour after the sentencing for a trial that began in February 2018,already reached the conclusions of the parties last year, but then repeatedly postponed for the request of the Knight to make spontaneous statements in the courtroom and those of his defense to postpone the hearings for legitimate impediment due to the state of health of the former premier.
"Berlusconi acquitted in Siena in the Ruby ter trial because the fact does not exist. Those who know him have never doubted his innocence. How much mud before reaching the truth!"
Antonio Tajani, National Coordinator of Forza Italia, writes on Twitter
. @ berlusconi acquitted in Siena in the Ruby ter trial because the fact does not exist. Those who know him have never doubted his innocence. How much mud before reaching the truth!
- Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) October 21, 2021
And according to what is learned from Forza Italia sources, the leader of the League, Matteo Salvini and the president of Fratelli d'Italia, Giorgia Meloni called Silvio Berlusconi after the Sienese sentence.
Berlusconi: "It went very well with Angela Merkel"