MILAN-Silvio Berlusconi started court-ordered community service Friday at the Sacra Famiglia Catholic Foundation centre for the elderly.

 The ex-prime minister will help Alzheimer’s patients as his punishment for tax fraud by the decision of the Milan court last month.

 Security restrained a union protester shouting Mr Berlusconi should be in prison when the politician was about to enter the building around 9am Friday.

 The ex-premier said nothing to the crowd of reporters, photographers and camera operators, both Italian and foreign, awaiting his arrival outside the centre grounds.  

 The general manager of the centre, Paolo Pigni, said last week that the media magnate had “fully agreed” with his community service schedule after meeting with Sacra Famiglia officials, and added that the former prime minister “will not do relaxing activities” and “will not go into an office.”