The flamboyant former leader is to be tried in a Milan court next March, accused of paying a British lawyer, David Mills, a $780,000 kickback for favourable evidence in two earlier corruption trials.
Mr Mills is the estranged husband of British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, and will also face charges.
It’s alleged the payment was made in 1997 by Berlusconi's family firm Fininvest, to persuade the lawyer to give false evidence in cases relating to the media magnate’s business dealings.
Both Mr Berlusconi and Mr Mills have denied the allegations, which carry a possible jail term of three to eight years.
The charges were first lodged this March, the month before the 70 year-old lost closely-fought parliamentary elections to centre-left leader Romano Prodi.
Supporters of Mr Berlusconi immediately filed a petition against the judge, Fabio Paparella, alleging his decision was reached inappropriately.
Under Paparella, Berlusconi already faces trial, beginning in November, on charges of tax fraud, false accounting and misuse of company assets in July.
Another 13 people will also be tried for fraud, in connection with the purchase of film rights in the United States by Berlusconi's Mediaset broadcasting company.
Ongoing scandals
Mr Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, has long been embroiled in legal entanglements stemming from his vast business empire, which includes a private TV network, a publishing conglomerate, insurance companies and department stores.
Cases related to his business dealings have landed him in court for eight separate trials on charges including corruption, tax fraud, false accounting and illegally financing political parties.
Among the most serious charges were allegations of bribing judges in business deals.
The staunchly anti-communist Mr Berlusconi -- who has consistently denied wrongdoing -- has long alleged bias on the part of "red judges" in the Milan judiciary, who he claims are out to destroy him.