A Milan judge on Tuesday sent 56
former Lombardy regional councillors to trial in a case
regarding alleged abuse of expense claims.
The defendants are accused of embezzlement and fraud.
The trial will start on July 1.
Three other people were convicted and sentenced to prison
terms of between 18 and 24 months in fast-track trials.
The defendants in the upcoming trial include Renzo Bossi,
son of the founder of the anti-immigrant, anti-euro Northern
League, and ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's former dental
hygienist, Nicole Minetti.
Last year Minetti was convicted on appeal of aiding and
abetting prostitution in connection with so-called bunga bunga
parties at Berlusconi's Arcore residence and sentenced to three
years in prison.
Bossi is accused of embezzling 15,757.21 euros between 2010
and 2012 after using public money to purchase sweets, chewing
gum, cocktails, crisps, newspapers, cigarettes, an iPhone,
earphones, a computer and a book.
Minetti must answer to expenditures of 19,651.96 euros in
restaurants and bars and at low-cost furniture shop IKEA.
She also allegedly claimed expenses for the book
Mignottocrazia (Whore-ocracy) by Paolo Guzzanti.
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