The supreme Court of Cassation on
Tuesday upheld a decision that the League must repay 49 million
euros it owes the State in a party-funding fraud case.
But the court also ruled that the fraud cases against former
party leader Umberto Bossi and ex-treasurer Francesco Belsito
over fraudulent electoral expenses claims between 2008 and 2010
had timed out.
A lower court had handed Bossi a term of one year, 10 months
and Belsito a sentence of three years, nine month term in
relation to the case.
However, a charge against Belsito for misappropriation has
not timed out and his term will be recalculated by an appeals
court.
The wrongdoing took place when the party was known as the
Northern League and dates back to before Deputy Premier and
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini became its leader.
Salvini said the supreme court's ruling "doesn't change
anything".
Last year lawyers representing the League agreed on an
arrangement with prosecutors for the seizure of party funds.
Under the arrangement, 100,000 euros will be confiscated
every two months for a total of 600,000 euros a year.
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