An Italian court cleared former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of abuse of power and having sex with an underage prostitute in an appeals ruling Friday.

The ruling, made by presiding judge Enrico Tranfa, surprised the courtroom with his decision, eliciting gasps from attendees. The judge said there was "no crime," and Berlusconi's actions in the prostitution charge "did not constitute a crime." Tranfa also promised to publish an explanation of his decision.

Berlusconi was facing a prison sentence of up to seven years and a lifetime ban from holding another public office.

"I am moved," Berlusconi, 77, was quoted by his Forza Italia party in a tweet. "Only those who have been close to me in these years know how much I suffered for an unjust accusation."

The former prime minister was not present at the Milan hearing, as he was doing his weekly community service at a center for Alzheimer's patients, which he does in accordance with a separate tax fraud conviction.

The initial conviction stemmed from accusations that Berlusconi paid for sex with an exotic dancer named Karima El-Mahroug, better known by the stage name "Ruby the Heart Stealer."

When the dancer was arrested for theft, Berlusconi, who was still prime minister at the time, allegedly pressured police to release El-Mahroug before she could reveal their affair. He argued that he believed at the time that the woman was Hosni Mubarak's niece.

"This ruling will bring people together," Lucio Malan, a Forza Italia senator, said to SkyTG24 news channel. "We will be calmer working in future and be more united between ourselves and with all of the center-right."

Berlusconi is also being investigated for suspicion of paying off witnesses following an investigation into prostitutes, who were hired to attend parties at his homes in Milan and Rome.