Overview
- Italy’s highest court annulled the 2023 Milan acquittals and ordered a new merits trial so judges must now rebuild the factual record of payments linked to the Arcore gatherings.
- The reopened appeal in Milan lists 22 defendants including Karima El Mahroug and lawyer Luca Giuliante while Silvio Berlusconi is no longer prosecutable after his 2023 death.
- Prosecutors allege a mix of bank transfers, gifts, houses, regular maintenance and promised money were used as quid pro quo to shape earlier court testimonies.
- Defence teams say the transfers were acts of generosity or economic help for people in difficulty and not tied to courtroom statements.
- Appeal judges have said outcomes could vary widely depending on the truth of past depositions, ranging from corruption in judicial acts to a lesser obstruction charge or no punishment for the women.