Judge revokes Berlusconi accompanying order to testify

(ANSA) - Bari, July 6 - The Court of Bari on Monday revoked an order mandating law enforcement to accompany Silvio Berlusconi to appear as a witness in court, after he assured judges that he will appear on July 10 at his next scheduled hearing in the trial of Gianpaolo Tarantini.
    Tarantini and six other defendants are charged with procuring prostitutes for the ex-premier's alleged sex parties between 2008 and 2009.
    Berlusconi is accused of bribing Tarantini to lie to investigators probing the parties.
    Berlusconi has missed two consecutive scheduled court appearances in the trial, and a judge granted his defence team's request to revoke the order, assuring the court of Berlusconi's appearance in Friday's scheduled hearing.
    Berlusconi missed the first appearance in early June because he was in Lugano, Switzerland for the sale of part of the AC Milan football club, which he owns.
    He missed his second appearance, on June 25, due to a meeting he attended in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Berlusconi's lawyers say was scheduled prior to the date of the court hearing being set.
    Bari judges said that appointment wasn't "a legitimate impediment" to appearing in court, which led to the compulsory accompanying order.
    Berlusconi, through his lawyers, has said that he will invoke his right to remain silent.
    Despite that statement, the Court of Bari said his testimony is considered "relevant and admissible".