Silvio Berlusconi convicted for tax fraud Italy's top court has confirmed a prison sentence for former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in the first ever definitive conviction in a tumultuous career for the billionaire tycoon. The court upheld a tax fraud sentence of four years in prison, of which three years are covered by an amnesty, even though Berlusconi is certain to be granted community service or house arrest instead. The Senate will have to vote to lift Berlusconi's immunity before the sentence can be implemented - a process that could take weeks or even months. Demonstrators celebrate outside Italy's highest court building minutes after the sentence confirming a four-year term for Italian former Premier Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud in Rome. A roar went up from a small group of anti-Berlusconi campaigners gathered outside the courtroom in central Rome as news of the ruling filtered through. One elated activist uncorked a bottle of champagne and held up an image showing the scandal-tainted magnate behind bars reading: "This is how we want Berlusconi." At a rally of Berlusconi supporters near his luxury residence in Rome, activists lowered their flags and stopped their chants of "Silvio, Silvio!" The road in front of the palace, where Berlusconi huddled with close family members, lawyers and political allies, was blocked off by dozens of police officers after warnings of more protests. Berlusconi was holding a conference of the leadership of his People of Freedom party in his residence to decide on what action to take, Italian media reported. Berlusconi said earlier there should be no effect on the government even if he is convicted but diehard supporters are threatening to resign from parliament - a move that could trigger fresh elections. The case revolved around Berlusconi's business empire Mediaset - the starting point for his first foray into politics in the early 1990s. His tumultuous career has been constantly dogged by legal troubles which he says are politically motivated attacks by left-wing prosecutors. Thursday's verdict was Berlusconi's second and final appeal in the case, which first went to trial in 2006. He is also appealing convictions in other cases for having sex with an underage prostitute, abusing his prime ministerial powers and leaking a police wiretap to damage a political rival. Prosecutors have also filed charges alleging he bribed a senator to join his ranks in a move that helped bring down the government in 2008.