Italian judges are due to consider on Thursday how Silvio Berlusconi should serve his one-year sentence following his conviction for tax fraud.<br /><br />They are expected to debate whether the former prime minister should serve time under house arrest or doing social work.<br /><br />Prison was always considered unlikely because of the 77-year-old media mogul’s age, and the non-violent nature of his crime.<br /><br />Sources say a government agency has asked the court to order him to work once a week in a care home for the elderly and disabled.<br /><br />Since last year’s conviction, Berlusconi has seen dozens of Forza Italia politicians split from the party he still leads, to back the coalition government.<br /><br />His party may appeal to the European Court for Human Rights over his two-year ban from public office. On Wednesday two Forza Italia MPs, Deborah Bergamini and Elena Centemero,took the case to Strasbourg.<br /><br />Berlusconi has faced several court cases. He has also been found guilty of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and abusing his power. <br /><br />The sentence for tax fraud, which he denies, was his first definitive conviction.
