An Italian court sentenced former Prime Minister Sylvio Berlusconi to 7 years in prison and banned him from ever holding public office again for having sex with an underage prostitute and abusing his power to cover it up.

It’s a massive blow for the 76-year old media tycoon, who will remain free while his two levels of appeals against the Milan court ruling are exhausted.

“I intend to resist this persecution because I am absolutely innocent,” Berlusconi said after the verdict. 

The incident occurred at one of Berlusconi’s notorious “Bunga Bunga” parties at his posh private villa outside the northern Italian financial city. 

Prosecutors were led to his door in May of 2010, when police arrested the teen prostitute for allegedly stealing a bracelet.  Then-Prime Minister Berlusconi called the police station to order them to release her.  It turned out that Berlusconi had been alerted to the arrest by the teen’s roommate, also a prostitute, who called him on his personal mobile phone.