A bribery case against Italy's former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, was dismissed on Saturday, ending the threat of a five-year jail term for the man who has dominated Italian politics for nearly two decades

A judge in Milan ruled that the case involving payments alleged to have been made by Mr. Berlusconi to British lawyer David Mills had run out of time allowed by law . Italian prosecutors said the money was designed to get Miils to provide false testimony during two trials in the 1990s.

Mr. Berlusconi resigned as prime minister in November in the face of the developing eurozone debt crisis. Despite Saturday's court victory, he is still dealing with more legal problems, including allegations he had sex with an underage prostitute and other cases involving questionable business dealings.

A billionaire, Berlusconi is considered Italy's richest media entrepreneur.