Cesare Previti
Encyclopedia
Cesare Previti is a former Italian politician.
, he grew up in Rome
, where he started practicing law. In 1971 he became acquainted with Silvio Berlusconi
, the construction magnate, later to be media mogul and Prime Minister of Italy
. He was the administrator of the property of a nineteen-year-old girl, whose father, the Marquess Casati Stampa, had killed her mother and her mother's lover before committing suicide in a celebrated case. In this capacity, he engineered the sale of her villa in Arcore
to Berlusconi, for 500 million lire, paid in the form of shares in then-unquoted companies. Many people would later cry foul, claiming that the amount was insufficient by far. In the end, she found herself forced to sell back the shares to Berlusconi and Previti for 250 million lire, half their previous value.
After that, Previti worked for Berlusconi's own Fininvest
company, and acquired a reputation as a ruthless, but extremely capable lawyer.
In 1994, after Berlusconi had founded his Forza Italia
political party, Previti won election to the Senate. Berlusconi, upon forming his first Cabinet, had wanted him as Minister of Justice
, but President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
was opposed on account of Previti's allegedly shady dealings, so ultimately it was decided he should exchange portfolios with Alfredo Biondi
, who had been earmarked for Defence. Thus Previti became the Minister of Defence in Berlusconi's first government, from May to December, 1994 (serving until January, 1995 as caretaker).
Previti was elected to the Chamber of Deputies
, again for Forza Italia, both in 1996 and in 2001, but was investigated, together with Berlusconi, for allegedly bribing judges in a series of high-profile cases relating to his years of service as Berlusconi's attorney before entering politics. Previti strenuously defended his record, claiming the judges were politically motivated.
In the "Sme" case, he was sentenced to five years in jail on November 22, 2003. but he appealed and remained free On December 2, 2005 he was condemned again and sentenced to five years, but he appealed once more. On November 30, 2006 the verdict was invalidated by the Corte di Cassazione, on the ground that the Milan court did not have jurisdiction to try the case. The case has been transferred to Perugia
. The prescription term, however, was very close (April 2007). He is accused of corrupting judge Renato Squillante: the sum of about $434,000 was transferred from Silvio Berlusconi
's personal account to one of his lawyer Previti's accounts and later to the judge's account.
In the "Imi-Sir" case, he was sentenced to eleven years in jail on April 29, 2003 and he appealed. He was later sentenced to seven years on May 23, 2005, but he appealed again. On May 4, 2006 was definitely sentenced by the Corte di Cassazione to six years.
Thanks to laws passed by Silvio Berlusconi
government, at the time of his arrest, he was already old enough to ask to have his prison
time turned into house arrest
. The change was carried out on May 10, 2006. Previti had spent only few days in prison.
In both cases, he was also forbidden to run for or hold public offices. On December 11, 2006 he was charged with defamation. He had accused judges of hiding evidence in previous Berlusconi trials. Milan court judges were found not guilty by the Brescia
court, which later opened a case against Previti.
He finally resigned under great pressure from the Chamber of Deputies on 31 July 2007.
Biography
Born in Reggio CalabriaReggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, he grew up in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he started practicing law. In 1971 he became acquainted with Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
, the construction magnate, later to be media mogul and Prime Minister of Italy
Prime minister of Italy
The Prime Minister of Italy is the head of government of the Italian Republic...
. He was the administrator of the property of a nineteen-year-old girl, whose father, the Marquess Casati Stampa, had killed her mother and her mother's lover before committing suicide in a celebrated case. In this capacity, he engineered the sale of her villa in Arcore
Arcore
Arcore is a comune in the Province of Monza and Brianza in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northeast of Milan.Arcore borders the following municipalities: Usmate Velate, Camparada, Lesmo, Biassono, Vimercate, Villasanta, Concorezzo.A notable resident is Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime...
to Berlusconi, for 500 million lire, paid in the form of shares in then-unquoted companies. Many people would later cry foul, claiming that the amount was insufficient by far. In the end, she found herself forced to sell back the shares to Berlusconi and Previti for 250 million lire, half their previous value.
After that, Previti worked for Berlusconi's own Fininvest
Fininvest
Fininvest is a financial holding company controlled by Silvio Berlusconi's family and managed by Silvio Berlusconi's eldest daughter Marina Berlusconi.-Structure:...
company, and acquired a reputation as a ruthless, but extremely capable lawyer.
In 1994, after Berlusconi had founded his Forza Italia
Forza Italia
Forza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
political party, Previti won election to the Senate. Berlusconi, upon forming his first Cabinet, had wanted him as Minister of Justice
Italian Minister of Justice
This is a list of Italian Ministers of Justice since 1946.-External links:* *...
, but President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Oscar Luigi Scalfaro , Italian politician and magistrate, was the ninth President of the Italian Republic from 1992 to 1999, and is currently a senator for life...
was opposed on account of Previti's allegedly shady dealings, so ultimately it was decided he should exchange portfolios with Alfredo Biondi
Alfredo Biondi
Alfredo Biondi is an Italian politician and lawyer. In 1994 he served as Minister of Justice of the Italian Republic during the first cabinet chaired by Silvio Berlusconi.-Biography:...
, who had been earmarked for Defence. Thus Previti became the Minister of Defence in Berlusconi's first government, from May to December, 1994 (serving until January, 1995 as caretaker).
Previti was elected to the Chamber of Deputies
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Italian Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Parliament of Italy. It has 630 seats, a plurality of which is controlled presently by liberal-conservative party People of Freedom. Twelve deputies represent Italian citizens outside of Italy. Deputies meet in the Palazzo Montecitorio. A...
, again for Forza Italia, both in 1996 and in 2001, but was investigated, together with Berlusconi, for allegedly bribing judges in a series of high-profile cases relating to his years of service as Berlusconi's attorney before entering politics. Previti strenuously defended his record, claiming the judges were politically motivated.
In the "Sme" case, he was sentenced to five years in jail on November 22, 2003. but he appealed and remained free On December 2, 2005 he was condemned again and sentenced to five years, but he appealed once more. On November 30, 2006 the verdict was invalidated by the Corte di Cassazione, on the ground that the Milan court did not have jurisdiction to try the case. The case has been transferred to Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
. The prescription term, however, was very close (April 2007). He is accused of corrupting judge Renato Squillante: the sum of about $434,000 was transferred from Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
's personal account to one of his lawyer Previti's accounts and later to the judge's account.
In the "Imi-Sir" case, he was sentenced to eleven years in jail on April 29, 2003 and he appealed. He was later sentenced to seven years on May 23, 2005, but he appealed again. On May 4, 2006 was definitely sentenced by the Corte di Cassazione to six years.
Thanks to laws passed by Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
government, at the time of his arrest, he was already old enough to ask to have his prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
time turned into house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
. The change was carried out on May 10, 2006. Previti had spent only few days in prison.
In both cases, he was also forbidden to run for or hold public offices. On December 11, 2006 he was charged with defamation. He had accused judges of hiding evidence in previous Berlusconi trials. Milan court judges were found not guilty by the Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
court, which later opened a case against Previti.
He finally resigned under great pressure from the Chamber of Deputies on 31 July 2007.