The court's verdict was unexpectedly harsh, going further than the original charges and openly questioning whether many of the young women who testified in Berlusconi's defence had lied on the stand to protect him.

The panel of three judges, all women, said Berlusconi went beyond using his influence to cover up his relationship with el-Mahroug, as originally charged, but rather "constrained" police officials to release the teen from custody when she was accused of theft.