Three convicted, 56 indicted over Lombardy expenses-update 2

(ANSA) - Milan, April 28 - 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.