Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was ordered on Wednesday (October 23) to stand trial for corruption in the latest legal setback to hit the centre-right leader.

Naples prosecutors accuse Berlusconi of bribing a former senator to change sides as part of an attempt to bring down the government of former Prime Minister Romano Prodi in 2006.

The senator, Sergio De Gregorio, who accused Berlusconi, admitted receiving 3 million euros from Berlusconi and attempting to persuade other senators to change sides. He was sentenced to 20 months in jail after plea bargaining.

Berlusconi has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer Michele Cerabona said he was confident of the outcome of a preliminary hearing expected on Feb. 11, 2014.

However, the case adds to a long list of legal headaches facing the billionaire media tycoon, who faces expulsion from parliament and a year of community service or house arrest after he was convicted of being at the centre of a vast tax fraud system at his Mediaset television empire.

Presented by Adam Justice

Read more: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/silvio-berlusconi-italy-stand-trial-bribe-senator-516304