BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A Milan court has convicted former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for the illegal publication of transcripts of wire-tapped conversations in a newspaper owned by his media empire.

The court sentenced him to one year in jail on Thursday although he is likely to appeal and will remain free in the meantime. Under Italian law, the 76-year-old media billionaire would not have to serve any jail time until the appeals process has been exhausted, and a higher court could overturn the ruling.

(Source: CNTV.cn)