Court Releases "Bunga Bunga" Berlusconi 

Former Italian Prime Minister (and billionaire) 77-year-old Silvio Berlusconi has been acquitted (cough, cough, does money talk?) in an appeal against his original seven-year conviction for paying for sex with a teenage prostitute, Moroccan-born nightclub dancer nicknamed Ruby the Heart Stealer, at his notorious “bunga bunga” parties, and for abusing his office by having her released from police custody. Apparently he also put pressure on officers in a police station in Milan to let her go when she was later arrested on a theft charge. He told them she was the grand-daughter of Hosni Mubarak, the then Egyptian leader, and that her detention could cause an international incident.

Berlusconi escaped additional corruption charges that he was involved with former Panamanian President  Ricardo Martinelli in about $24 million in kickbacks paid for Panama's overpriced purchases of Italian radar systems, helicopters, and electronic mapping services.

Another interesting part of the case involved Martinelli and several fellow politicians and officials, as well as several unidentified women, spending weekends at a posh resort (Berlusconi's?) in Italy. Sources familiar with the case claim they have video recordings of Martinelli using cocaine and engaging with prostitutes.

Shortly after the Berlusconi acquittal was announced in court, he left the residence by car, but said nothing to journalists. The court in Milan now has 90 days in which to release the reasoning behind its decision. It's not clear if the Milan judges have also requested bribes to cement the acquittal, but perhaps it's too early to tell at this point.