Corruption charges for Jowell's husband

Published on Tuesday 31 October 2006 00:20

THE estranged husband of Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, was yesterday sent for trial on corruption charges alongside Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister.

David Mills, a company lawyer, had already faced proceedings amid allegations of tax evasion and money laundering.

Berlusconi is accused of ordering a 350,000 payment to Mills, a close friend, in exchange for the lawyer's false testimony in two trials against the politician. Both men deny the allegations.

Berlusconi's allies last night condemned judge Fabio Paparella's decision as "political".

Central to the case is a letter from Mills to his accountant, Bob Drennan,

which describes how he had received money from the "B people" after he had "told no lies but turned some very tricky corners, to put it mildly" when he testified in a fraud case involving Berlusconi.

The revelations led to a government investigation into whether Ms Jowell had broken the ministerial code, after Mills used the cash to pay off their mortgage. She was cleared, but the storm was followed by the couple's separation in March.

Mills faces up to 12 years in jail, and a possible eight-year term in the corruption case.

Last night he said: "This latest twist in no way dims my confidence in a successful outcome to the affair.

"This case should never have been brought. I am innocent, and the documents we have will prove this."

The trial is due to begin in March next year.