Berlusconi lawyer: No evidence of bribery in 'bunga bunga' trial

Forza Italia leader and former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi sits at the upper house of parliament during the first voting session to elect the speaker of the Senate in Rome, Italy, October 13, 2022. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

MILAN (Reuters) - There is no evidence that Silvio Berlusconi bribed witnesses in the infamous 'bunga bunga' sex trial, one of his defence lawyers said on Monday, calling for the former Italian prime minister to be acquitted in a new trial linked to the case.

An appeal court cleared Berlusconi in 2014 of soliciting sex from a minor and abuse of power. But the billionaire conservative politician was put in the dock again after being accused of paying witnesses to help clear him.