The magistrates have not accused Berlusconi of any wrongdoing – yet. But they want to question him about allegations that officials at Fininvest – the holding company that controls his publishing, television, advertising, real-estate and supermarket empire – paid bribes to tax officials several years ago in return for favorable audits. One bribe, allegedly made by the Mondadori publishing company in 1991, is said to have amount-ed to $80,000. The other, allegedly paid by the insurance company Mediolanum Vita in 1992, is said to have totaled $60,000.
Berlusconi has admitted that executives of his companies paid bribes – a common practice in Italy before the ““Clean Hands’’ corruption busters went into action – but he has denied authorizing such payments. In a nationwide broadcast, he insisted that he was innocent and that he would refuse to resign office under fire. ““I have never corrupted anyone,’’ he declared. ““I have nothing to fear.’’ But whether or not the magistrates turn up enough evidence to charge him, Berlusconi is in political trouble.
