Italian PM cleared in tax fraud case

A Milan judge on Tuesday cleared Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi of charges of tax fraud and misappropriation of funds related to his commercial broadcast company, Mediaset, a prosecutor said.

Berlusconi's son, Pier Silvio Berlusconi, and Mediaset Chairman Fedele Confalonieri were indicted in the case, according to prosecutor Fabio De Pasquale.

Company executives have been under investigation for allegedly failing to pay $45m in corporate taxes and other fiscal crimes from 2000 to 2003.

Berlusconi has called the allegations politically motivated.

(Published by CNN - October 18, 2011)