ROME -- A British lawyer says he invented accusations that Silvio Berlusconi paid him $600,000 to lie on the stand to protect the former Italian premier's business interests.
David Mills' testimony Thursday at Berlusconi's corruption trial in Milan undercuts prosecutors' case against the politician.
Prosecutors allege Berlusconi paid Mills to give false testimony in two 1990s trials to shield
Berlusconi and his Fininvest holding company from charges relating to the purchase of U.S. film rights.
Mills says he "invented" the story of the payoff to hide from British tax authorities a $600,000 payment from an Italian client, according to the LaPress news agency.
Mills' 2009 bribery conviction was overturned last year.
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