Former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi has died at the age of 86, according to Italian media reports.
The media mogul was Italy's longest-serving premier and was known for the scandals surrounding his sex-fuelled parties accompanied by allegations of corruption. Italian news agency LaPresse reported Mr Berlusconi's death after he was taken to hospital on Friday to be treated for chronic leukaemia.
He was previously taken to hospital in Milan on April 5 with a lung infection due to the disease, according to Berlusconi's physician Dr Alberto Zangrillo. Over the years, he had suffered from a wide range of illnesses, including prostate cancer while also being taken to hospital in 2020 due to a Covid infection.
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Berlusconi left his mark in Italian politics as a polarising figure. Admirers saw him as a charismatic statesman while critics said he used his political power for his own personal gain.
Investigations into Mr Berlusconi targeted his famous 'bunga bunga' parties which reportedly involved young women and minors. However, only one probe led to a conviction - a tax fraud case stemming from a sale of movie rights in his business empire which included AC Milan, the country's three biggest private TV networks, magazines, a daily newspaper, advertising, and film companies.
The conviction was upheld in 2013 by Italy's top criminal courts. However, he was spared prison due to his age of 76 at the time - he was instead ordered to perform community service by assisting Alzheimer's patients.
In 2013, guests at one of his parties included an under-age Moroccan dancer whom prosecutors alleged had sex with Mr Berlusconi in exchange for cash and jewellery. Following a trial filled with colourful details, A Milan court initially convicted Mr Berlusconi of paying for sex with a minor and using his office to try to cover it up.
But both denied engaging with sex with each other and he was eventually acquitted.
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