Berlusconi: Judicial system a 'cancer'

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MILAN, Italy, March 1 (UPI) -- Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told an appeals court Friday the Italian judicial system is a "disease" and a "cancer."

Berlusconi has asked the court in Milan to overturn his conviction and four-year prison sentence for tax fraud, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. The "Mediaset" trial, one of three prosecutions facing Berlusconi, involved the sale of television rights in Berlusconi's media empire.

On Friday, Berlusconi told the court he was never involved in the sale of TV rights. He accused prosecutors and judges of having political motives.

"It is clear and evident that it (the judiciary) is a disease of our system, a cancer in our democracy," he said.

Prosecutors asked the court to uphold the sentence.

"I hope this will not be a political sentence because I still have much to do for the good of the country and I'm hoping for a fair judgment," Berlusconi said.