미성년자 성매매' 전 총리 베를루스코니, 무죄?

By 신용배

Published : July 22, 2014 - 13:27

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이탈리아 밀라노 고등법원은 18일(현지시간) 미성년자 성 매매 혐의로 기소된 실비오 베를루스코니(77) 전 총리에게 7년형을 선고한 원심을 깨고 무죄를 선고했다. 판결 이유는 즉각 공개되지 않았다.

이와 관련, 베를루스코니 전 총리의 변호인은 "성관계를 맺었는지 여부는 별개 로 미성년자인지도 알지 못했다는 진술이 받아들여진 것 같다"고 말했다.

베를루스코니 전 총리는 2010년 별장에서 당시 17세였던 모로코 출신 댄서 카리마엘-마루그 (일명 루비)에게 돈을 주고 성관계를 한 혐의로 기소됐다.

지난해 6월 1심은 베를루스코니 전 총리에 대해 7년형과 함께 평생 공직 진출 금지를 판결했다. 검찰은 이날 고법의 판결에 불복, 상고할 수 있다.

한편 부패 혐의와 관련된 베를루스코니 전 총리의 재판은 나폴리에서 진행 중이다. 베를루스코니 전 총리가 소유한 방송사 미디어셋과 관련된 탈세 혐의에 대해선 이미 유죄가 확정됐다. (연합)

베를루스코니 전 총리와 댄서 루비 (연합)

<관련 영문 뉴스>

Italian court acquits Berlusconi in sex case

An Italian appeals court on Friday acquitted former Premier Silvio Berlusconi in a sex-for-hire case, reversing a lower court conviction that had carried a seven-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban on holding political office.

The case has grabbed global attention, offering an unseemly peek into the 77-year-old three-time premier's private life with witness testimony revealing raunchy, sex-fueled bunga-bunga parties at his private villa attended by a bevy of aspiring showgirls.

The prosecution alleged that Berlusconi had paid for sex with underage Moroccan prostitute Karima el-Mahroug, better known as Ruby, and then used his influence to cover it up.

He denied the charges, saying the case was politically motivated by magistrates trying to drive him from power. Both he and el-Mahroug, who was 17 when she frequented the then-premier's villa, denied ever having had sex.

The acquittal was announced just as Berlusconi was leaving a facility for Alzheimer's patients where he is performing community service for a separate conviction on a tax fraud charge. That is the only case finalized against Berlusconi, who has faced dozens of trials, mostly for his business dealings.

Berlusconi issued a statement to supporters saying the verdict confirmed `'what I have always said: that the vast majority of Italian magistrates do their work quietly, with admirable balance and rigor.''

Berlusconi's defense lawyer, Franco Coppi, said the decision `'goes beyond the rosiest predictions,'' adding that he would have been satisfied with an acquittal for lack of evidence. But the court went further, saying that no crimes had been committed.

While the court has 90 days to issue its reasoning, Coppi said the decision to acquit for paying an underage prostitute for sex could have been due to Berlusconi's testimony that he believed el-Mahroug was over 18, irrespective of whether he had sex with her.

The case may not end there, however. Prosecutors can challenge Friday's acquittal in Italy's highest criminal court, the Court of Cassation. (AP)

미성년자 성매매' 전 총리 베를루스코니, 무죄?

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