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Berlusconi cleared over official jet use

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-21 11:45

A special tribunal yesterday rejected a complaint against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for using his official plane to ferry guests to his private parties, media reports said.

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A consumer group, Codacons, lodged a complaint in June at the height of the sex scandals dogging the prime minister. Photos appeared in the press of popular singer Mariano Apicella and a flamenco dancer descending from a government plane in Sardinia, where the billionaire prime minister has a luxurious villa.

"If sometimes on these planes there are a few extra passengers, it doesn't cost a penny, since the plane is already in use for this journey. It's a question of practicality," Berlusconi said at the time.

The tribunal, which disciplines cabinet members including the prime minister, agreed with investigators who had argued that on all six flights in question at least one person authorized to travel on the official plane was on board.