An Italian court has found former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi guilty of leaking information from a police inquiry and sentenced him to a year in prison.
The charge dates back to 2005, when a newspaper owned by Berlusconi's media empire published police wiretaps to damage a political rival.
Berlusconi is likely to appeal the verdict and will remain free during the appeal process.
He faces two more verdicts this month -- for tax fraud and having sex with an underage prostitute.
Berlusconi has faced numerous trials over the years, which he says are a vendetta by politically minded prosecutors.
He has denied all the charges and has been acquitted or let off under statutes of limitations.
Berlusconi's center-right coalition finished third in Italy's recent parliamentary elections that saw no clear winner.
The charge dates back to 2005, when a newspaper owned by Berlusconi's media empire published police wiretaps to damage a political rival.
Berlusconi is likely to appeal the verdict and will remain free during the appeal process.
He faces two more verdicts this month -- for tax fraud and having sex with an underage prostitute.
Berlusconi has faced numerous trials over the years, which he says are a vendetta by politically minded prosecutors.
He has denied all the charges and has been acquitted or let off under statutes of limitations.
Berlusconi's center-right coalition finished third in Italy's recent parliamentary elections that saw no clear winner.
