Berlusconi and Mills stand trial for alleged bribe

MILAN, Mar 12 (Reuters) Silvio Berlusconi and David Mills go on trial tomorrow over an alleged bribe paid to the British lawyer to keep quiet about the former Italian prime minister's media business dealings.

Berlusconi is accused of paying Mills, the estranged husband of British Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Tessa Jowell, 600,000 dollars for withholding details of his media empire during testimony in two court cases in 1997.

If convicted of the charge of corruption in a court case, media mogul Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, could face up to eight years in prison, as could Mills.

It is one of two ongoing trials for Berlusconi and Mills -- an expert in offshore taxation -- over the Mediaset broadcasting business owned by the leader of Italy's centre-right opposition.

Another trial over alleged corporate fraud at Mediaset began in November, 2006 and is still in the preliminary stages. Some charges have already been thrown out because they had expired under Italy's statute of limitations.

Both Berlusconi and Mills have denied any wrongdoing.

Neither Berlusconi nor Mills are expected to attend the opening session of the trial.

In Britain, the case caused a political storm which nearly cost Jowell her job after it triggered an inquiry into whether she had broken the ministerial code of conduct when a 600,000 dollars payment was used to repay a mortgage.

She survived but the couple have separated.

If proceedings run into 2008, Berlusconi is likely to avoid prosecution because the statute of limitations -- which was shortened under his government -- could come into play.

Berlusconi has faced several court cases over the last two decades but any convictions have been overturned at appeal, lapsed under the statute of limitations or are under appeal.

Berlusconi, the longest serving Italian prime minister for decades, has accused his foes of bringing spurious charges for political gain.

He narrowly lost an election in April 2006 to Romano Prodi, whose fragile majority in the upper house has already let him down and forced his temporary resignation last month.

Reuters KR RS1630