Berlusconi gets two-year ban from politics

An Italian appeals court on Saturday ordered a two-year political ban for scandal-tainted former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi as part of a tax fraud ruling.

The supreme court on August 1 turned down Berlusconi's second and final appeal in the case but said another court should decide on a ban from parliament of between one and three years.

Prosecutors at Saturday's hearing requested a two-year ban and the panel of judges went into chambers shortly after the start of the session to consider their verdict, Italian media reported.

The Milan ruling would complete Berlusconi's definitive conviction -- his first ever in a long history of legal woes for the billionaire tycoon.

The 77-year-old is not expected in court.

Whatever the length of the ban for Berlusconi, it would end up temporarily stripping him of the right to vote and run for re-election -- although the Senate will have to vote on when that happens.

The case revolved around Berlusconi's media empire and included a prison sentence of four years that was immediately commuted to one year because of an amnesty rule in place and will be served as house arrest or community service because of his age. -- AFP