BBC NEWS | Europe | The Mills-Jowell case seen from Italy

BBC NEWS | Europe | The Mills-Jowell case seen from Italy: "The billionaire businessman and now prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, whose political career took off in the wake of this scandal, is seeking re-election next month.

He has faced trial on several occasions on corruption charges relating to the period before he went into politics.

In every case he has either been found not guilty or has benefited from prescription laws, but now he faces possible trial on new corruption charges in a case also involving his former British lawyer and financial adviser, David Mills."