Background to Silvio Berlusconi wiretap trial
- Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has received a one-year sentence after being convicted of the illegal publication of wiretaps.
- It relates to a conversation relating to a 2005 banking scandal between a political opponent, Piero Fassino, the head of the former centre-left Democratic Left (DS) party, and Giovanni Consorte, the former chairman of Unipol, an association of insurers.
- Details of the confidential phone call were published in Il Giornale, a conservative newspaper owned by Mr Berlusconi's brother Paolo. He has been sentenced to two years and three months.
- Berlusconi, who has denied any wrongdoing, can seek to have the decision overturned before a court of appeal.
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