ROME, July 18 (RAPSI) – An appeals court in Milan on Friday cleared former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of charges of abuse of office and soliciting sex from a minor, the Italian media write.

The sentence handed down to Berlusconi, 77, was overturned for lack of evidence and absence of the elements of a crime.

On June 24, 2013, a court in Milan sentenced Berlusconi to seven years in prison in the so-called bunga bunga case. According to investigators, he paid for sex with former nightclub dancer Kharima El Mahroug, better known under her stage name Ruby the Heart Stealer, when she was under 18.

The former PM was also banned for life from holding political office.

Had the appeals court upheld the sentence, this would have had a serious impact on the political situation in Italy.