TIM Silvio Berlusconi Convicted of Having Sex With Underage Prostitute. But Will He Go to Jail? By Alessandro Speciale / June 24, 2013 A lower court in Milan sentenced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to seven years in jail for paying for sex with a minor and covering it up — but don't expect the media tycoon to go to prison anytime soon. After a trial that lasted more than two years, the 76-year-old billionaire was found guilty by a panel of three female judges, who also banned him from holding public office. But in Italy's three- tier court system, Monday's sentence will only come into effect if it is upheld by two other courts after a lengthy appeals process. When the sentence was read out, a small group of protesters started celebrating in front of Milan's tribunal, while politicians from Berlusconi's center-right People of Freedom party immediately dismissed the sentence as the latest installment of what they have described as Berlusconi's "persecution" at the hands of Italy's leftist judiciary. In his 20 years at the forefront of Italy's politics, the four-time Prime Minister has been through this before. In May, a four-year conviction for tax fraud was confirmed by an appeals court, but this sentence too will have to be reviewed by Italy's highest court. So far scandals and court cases haven't been able to stop his career. This time, the case revolved around the notorious "Ruby the Heartstealer," a Moroccan nightclub dancer that attended "bunga bunga" sex parties in Berlusconi's luxurious villa outside Milan. According to the conviction, the former Prime Minister paid for sex with her in 2010 when she was still a minor — something both she and Berlusconi denied but that according to prosecutors was confirmed by several witnesses and wiretaps. Over 30 young women — who each received several thousand dollars — Page I 1 of 3 EFTA01121281