A MILAN court has convicted former Premier Silvio Berlusconi for the illegal publication of transcripts of wiretapped conversations in a newspaper owned by his media empire. The court on Thursday sentenced him to one year in jail, although he is unlikely to be put behind bars during a possible appeal. The verdict carries no impact on Berlusconi's eligibility to participate in a new government. His centre-right coalition finished third in parliamentary elections that saw now clear winner. Talks on forming a new government are expected to begin March 20. The charge relates to the 2005 publication of a wiretapped call that was part of an investigation into a failed bid to take over a bank.