Media probe inspectors step in
Berlusconi under investigation in talk show 'pressure' case
16 March, 12:27
(ANSA) - Trani, March 16 - Justice Minister inspectors were
set Tuesday to quiz prosecutors who suspect Italian Premier
Silvio Berlusconi of trying to muzzle an allegedly hostile talk
show on state broadcaster RAI.In the probe, Berlusconi is under investigation for possible abuse of office in allegedly asking Giancarlo Innocenzi, a member of Italy's media watchdog Agcom and a former Berlusconi media employee, for advice on how to "shut down" Annozero, a talk show regularly accused of going too far in its coverage of the premier's private life and legal woes.
Berlusconi has called the probe, which has used wiretaps from an original investigation into American Express cards, "grotesque".
The head of Italy's biggest centre-left opposition group, Democratic Party leader Pierluigi Bersani, has said "the premier should use his remote control rather than his phone if he wants to change stations".
The head of RAI's flagship news programme TG1, Augusto Minzolini, is also under investigation on suspicion of telling the premier he was being probed. Also involved is Cosimo Ferri, a member of the Italian judiciary's self-governing body, the Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM), who was allegedly caught on tape talking about possible legal advice on ways of stopping allegedly unfavourable coverage.
The CSM is set to decide Tuesday whether to open disciplinary proceedings against Ferri.
Annozero host Michele Santoro, who disappeared from RAI airwaves for four years after allegedly being blacklisted by Berlusconi in 2002, arrived in the southern Italian city of Trani, Puglia, for questioning by prosecutors Tuesday.
He declined to answer journalists' questions, other than saying: "I will go forward".
Santoro was the first Italian TV journalist to interview an escort who spent the night at Berlusconi's Rome residence.
Earlier last summer, he put the spotlight on an 18-year-old Neapolitan model whose friendship with Berlusconi was reportedly behind the premier's wife demand for a divorce. Annozero has also closely followed Berlusconi's trials, especially one involving a British tax lawyer, David Mills, convicted of taking a bribe to hush up evidence.
Minzolini, who was reportedly handpicked by the premier for the TG1 job last year, has caused controversy with 'editorials' defending the premier from muckraking attacks.
When Mills escaped a definitive conviction last month because of the statute of limitations, TG1 incorrectly reported he had been "acquitted". The initial probe started in Trani last year when prosecutors obtained authorisation for wiretaps into a suspected credit card scam.
Berlusconi and his supporters have claimed the disclosure of the premier's allegedly improper pressure on RAI has been timed to coincide with regional elections in 13 of Italy's 20 regions on March 28-29.
On Tuesday he repeated his claim that "the Left and the magistrates are trying to swing the vote".
Agcom separately ruled to close to political talk shows last month during the last month of campaigning.
The ban was lifted for private broadcasters by a regional court Friday but RAI's board voted narrowly Monday to keep it in place and ask RAI's parliamentary watchdog for further instructions.
The watchdog's head, veteran journalist Sergio Zavoli, said he had expected a different decision by RAI, especially given that time was running out to lift the alleged 'gag', which is hotly contested by the opposition, journalists and campaigners for freedom of information.
RAI chief Paolo Garimberti voiced ""regret" and said he expected the watchdog to "take a stand" and reverse the ban, which has also hurt RAI economically.
