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Surprise ruling clears former Italian prime minister of having sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power.
An Italian appeals court has cleared Silvio Berlusconi of having sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power in a surprise ruling that will strengthen the former prime minister on the political scene.
Prosecutors had asked the judges to uphold the seven-year sentence for having sex for money with an exotic dancer called Karima El-Mahroug, who is now better known by her stage name as "Ruby the Heart Stealer".
"The defendant is acquitted," Enrico Tranfa, the presiding judge, said on Friday, requesting silence after gasps from the court.
He said there was "no crime" on the abuse of power charge and that Berlusconi's actions "did not constitute a crime" on the prostitution one, promising to publish a detailed explanation within the three-month legal limit.
Franco Coppi, Berlusconi's lawyer, said that the ruling had "exceeded our highest expectations", explaining that the judge may have recognised the defence argument that Berlusconi did not know the girl was 17 years old.
Berlusconi, the 77-year-old media magnate, was not present at the hearing in Milan as he is doing his once-a-week community service at a centre for Alzheimer's patients for a separate tax fraud conviction linked to his business empire, Mediaset.
He left the centre at Cesano Boscone near Milan following the ruling without making any comments, while a lone supporter held up a sign reading: "Justice is served".
Berlusconi had also been convicted of pressuring the police while he was still prime minister to release her from custody when she was arrested for theft - apparently out of concern that she could reveal their liaison.
Prosecutors, who had relied on phone intercepts and statements made and then denied by El-Mahroug, could now apply to the supreme court to review the ruling.
The ruling will have political repercussions, providing a respite from the legal storm around Berlusconi.
An Italian appeals court has cleared Silvio Berlusconi of having sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power in a surprise ruling that will strengthen the former prime minister on the political scene.
Prosecutors had asked the judges to uphold the seven-year sentence for having sex for money with an exotic dancer called Karima El-Mahroug, who is now better known by her stage name as "Ruby the Heart Stealer".
"The defendant is acquitted," Enrico Tranfa, the presiding judge, said on Friday, requesting silence after gasps from the court.
He said there was "no crime" on the abuse of power charge and that Berlusconi's actions "did not constitute a crime" on the prostitution one, promising to publish a detailed explanation within the three-month legal limit.
Franco Coppi, Berlusconi's lawyer, said that the ruling had "exceeded our highest expectations", explaining that the judge may have recognised the defence argument that Berlusconi did not know the girl was 17 years old.
Berlusconi, the 77-year-old media magnate, was not present at the hearing in Milan as he is doing his once-a-week community service at a centre for Alzheimer's patients for a separate tax fraud conviction linked to his business empire, Mediaset.
He left the centre at Cesano Boscone near Milan following the ruling without making any comments, while a lone supporter held up a sign reading: "Justice is served".
Berlusconi had also been convicted of pressuring the police while he was still prime minister to release her from custody when she was arrested for theft - apparently out of concern that she could reveal their liaison.
Prosecutors, who had relied on phone intercepts and statements made and then denied by El-Mahroug, could now apply to the supreme court to review the ruling.
The ruling will have political repercussions, providing a respite from the legal storm around Berlusconi.