Italy drops some of Berlusconi's charges

MILAN, Italy, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A judge in Milan, Italy, threw out several charges in former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's fraud trial Monday, based on statutes of limitation.

Judge Edoardo D'Avossa threw out all embezzlement charges against Berlusconi that predated July 1999, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

Co-accused British corporate lawyer David Mills also had a charge of receiving stolen goods before 1993 dismissed for the same reason, a BBC correspondent reported.

The trial, which began in November, is based on alleged fraud at Berlusconi's private TV network company Mediaset. In all 14 people are on trial on charges ranging from tax fraud, false accounting and embezzlement to money laundering.

All of the defendants have entered pleas of innocent to all charges.

Berlusconi is Italy's wealthiest man, and has been prime minister twice. Since losing the election in April, he is now the leader of the opposition in parliament.