The former treasurer of a defunct
Italian political party was found guilty of embezzling more than
25 million euros in public election funds and sentenced to eight
years in prison on Friday.
Luigi Lusi, a former Senator in the center-left Daisy
Party, has been under house arrest since last May after his
release from prison.
The now-defunct party was among a number of Italian parties
hit by funding scandals in recent years, increasing public
disaffection with politics.
Judges also found three of his accomplices guilty.
Accountant Mario Montecchia was sentenced to three years and six
months in prison, while Montecchia's former colleagues Giovanni
Sebastio received two years and eight months, and Diana Ferri
received one year and two months.
Lusi was acquitted of the charge of criminal conspiracy,
but a charge of slandering his ex-boss, Francesco Rutelli,
former leader of the Daisy party 2002-2007, was upheld.
He is expected to appeal the Rome lower-court ruling.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
