MILAN (AP) — A former Italian foreign minister has been convicted and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for his role in the sale of an apartment in Monte Carlo inherited by his right-wing party. Gianfranco Fini is a former leader of the far-right Italian Social Movement, which he moved away from its neo-fascist ideology and transformed into the National Alliance, serving as foreign minister in 2004-2006 under then-Premier Silvio Berlusconi. The far-right party of Italy’s current premier, Giorgia Meloni, has roots in Fini’s parties. Fini faced charges including money laundering in connection with the sale of the apartment in 2015 for 1.36 million euros (nearly 1.5 million euros at current exchange rates). The property had been left to the National Alliance by a countess and was sold to the father of Fini’s partner for 300,000 euros in 2008. A fraud investigation into that transaction closed without charges, and a new investigation was launched in 2017 after the second sale. |
Texas fined $100,000 per day for failing to act on foster care abuse allegationsNational defense ministry slams 'Taiwan independence' separatistsFormer Marine sentenced to 9 years in prison for firebombing California Planned Parenthood clinicEU, G7 leaders urge preventing escalation in MideastUS Olympic committee strikes sponsorship deal to help athletes get degrees after they retireA London court rules against a Muslim girl who wanted to pray at a school known for strict rulesNational defense ministry slams 'Taiwan independence' separatistsXi's article on cultural heritage, fine traditional Chinese culture to be publishedLatest I'm A Celebrity eviction sees campmates at a loss as they struggle to feed themselvesSouth Africa's former president Zuma survives road crash