MILAN (AP) — A former Italian foreign minister has been convicted and sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for his role in the sale of an apartment in Monte Carlo inherited by his right-wing party. Gianfranco Fini is a former leader of the far-right Italian Social Movement, which he moved away from its neo-fascist ideology and transformed into the National Alliance, serving as foreign minister in 2004-2006 under then-Premier Silvio Berlusconi. The far-right party of Italy’s current premier, Giorgia Meloni, has roots in Fini’s parties. Fini faced charges including money laundering in connection with the sale of the apartment in 2015 for 1.36 million euros (nearly 1.5 million euros at current exchange rates). The property had been left to the National Alliance by a countess and was sold to the father of Fini’s partner for 300,000 euros in 2008. A fraud investigation into that transaction closed without charges, and a new investigation was launched in 2017 after the second sale. |
Trump hush money trial: Prosecutors move deeper into exFormer cruise ship worker reveals the six things she would NEVER do on boardWhat we learned from local votes ahead of looming UK general electionCoach Amorim vows to stay with Sporting Lisbon after winning another Portuguese leagueBerkshire Hathaway event gives good view of Warren Buffett's successorThey shared a name — but not a future. How two kids fought to escape poverty in BaltimoreTeacher Appreciation Week: Top school's staff go 'beyond the textbook'Coach Amorim vows to stay with Sporting Lisbon after winning another Portuguese leagueOutrage as proArsenal needs a favor from Tottenham in the title race. Current form suggests it won't happen