Berlusconi faces prostitution probe
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faces a prostitution investigation in Milan over a teenage nightclub dancer who attended parties at his private residence, prosecutors said yesterday.
A day after Italy's constitutional court partially struck down a law that gave him blanket immunity from prosecution, the announcement adds a further headache for the premier, who is battling to shore up his struggling government and already faces fraud and corruption charges.
The magistrates are examining whether Berlusconi intervened improperly with police to secure the release of 17-year-old Karima El Mahroug, who uses the stage name "Ruby," after she was held over theft allegations.
The probe also covers allegations of underaged prostitution. The age of consent is 14 in Italy but exploiting or favoring prostitution of minors aged under 18 is a crime.
Prosecutors said in a statement they were carrying out an investigation into alleged crimes committed between February and May 2010, when the girl was 17 years old, and that they had issued summons to Berlusconi and his lawyers.
The prime minister's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini issued a statement dismissing the investigation as "absurd and groundless" and said the allegations had already been denied by witnesses and those directly involved.
The case of "Ruby" caused an international media storm last year and instantly made the expression "bunga bunga" - a term used by the young woman to describe sex parties - part of the Italian vocabulary.
She told newspapers she was paid 7,000 euros after she attended a party at Berlusconi's residence near Milan but she denied having sex with him.
Berlusconi, who has weathered sex scandals involving escorts and young women since returning to power in 2008, has acknowledged knowing Ruby and making a phone call to police on her behalf.
But he says he was merely offering normal assistance to a person in need. He has denied using any improper influence or pressuring officers to let her go.
Berlusconi was placed under investigation last month but the probe was only made public yesterday.
A day after Italy's constitutional court partially struck down a law that gave him blanket immunity from prosecution, the announcement adds a further headache for the premier, who is battling to shore up his struggling government and already faces fraud and corruption charges.
The magistrates are examining whether Berlusconi intervened improperly with police to secure the release of 17-year-old Karima El Mahroug, who uses the stage name "Ruby," after she was held over theft allegations.
The probe also covers allegations of underaged prostitution. The age of consent is 14 in Italy but exploiting or favoring prostitution of minors aged under 18 is a crime.
Prosecutors said in a statement they were carrying out an investigation into alleged crimes committed between February and May 2010, when the girl was 17 years old, and that they had issued summons to Berlusconi and his lawyers.
The prime minister's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini issued a statement dismissing the investigation as "absurd and groundless" and said the allegations had already been denied by witnesses and those directly involved.
The case of "Ruby" caused an international media storm last year and instantly made the expression "bunga bunga" - a term used by the young woman to describe sex parties - part of the Italian vocabulary.
She told newspapers she was paid 7,000 euros after she attended a party at Berlusconi's residence near Milan but she denied having sex with him.
Berlusconi, who has weathered sex scandals involving escorts and young women since returning to power in 2008, has acknowledged knowing Ruby and making a phone call to police on her behalf.
But he says he was merely offering normal assistance to a person in need. He has denied using any improper influence or pressuring officers to let her go.
Berlusconi was placed under investigation last month but the probe was only made public yesterday.
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