Rome ( CNN ) -- Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has survived political , corruption and sex scandals over the years , but on Friday , a Milan court sentenced the flamboyant politician to four years in prison for tax evasion . Berlusconi , who is likely to appeal , called it an `` unacceptable political sentence '' in an interview that aired on CNN affiliate TGCOM24 . `` I was convinced that I would get acquitted of an accusation that is far from the truth , '' he said . `` This is a conviction I can easily define as political , incredible and even intolerable . '' He added : `` I 'm a victim of judicial harassment . '' His trial , which also involved executives from Berlusconi 's Mediaset television group and the head of a Swiss bank , concerned the purchase of TV rights for films that were then resold within the group at inflated prices . Prosecutors said the scheme , involving about 3,000 American films , allowed those involved to avoid a major tax bill . They may have to pay a fine of up to â‚¬10 million ( $ 12.9 million ) if the court 's ruling is upheld . Under the Italian legal system , Berlusconi and his fellow defendants have the right to appeal their sentence twice , in the appeals court and a higher court . Also , because the case dates to July 2006 , the statute of limitations will expire next year , meaning there is a good chance none of the defendants will serve any prison time . Berlusconi , 76 , resigned as prime minister in November amid his country 's debt crisis , bringing to an apparent end an 18-year era in which he dominated Italian politics . Through the years , he was accused of embezzlement , fraud and bribery , but he was never convicted until the tax evasion case . He also faces trial on charges that he hired an underage prostitute and later tried to pull strings to get her out of jail when she was accused of theft . The woman involved in the long-running case is the Moroccan dancer Karima el Mahroug , nicknamed `` Ruby the Heart-stealer . '' American movie star George Clooney had been expected to appear Friday as a defense witness in that case but did not show up . The actor 's representative said he would not be serving as a witness for Berlusconi . CNN 's Hada Messia contributed to this report .
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi calls sentence `` political '' He is likely to appeal the sentence handed down by a Milan court . He resigned as prime minister in November over his country 's debt crisis . Score: 6