Silvio Berlusconi faces trial for sex with vice girl, 17

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Nick Pisa12 April 2012

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was today indicted to stand trial on charges of paying for sex with an underage girl and abuse of power in trying to cover it up.

If convicted the 74-year-old could face 15 years in jail. His trial in April will be heard by an all-women panel of judges in Milan.

The billionaire media tycoon denies paying for sex with belly dancer Karima El Mahroug when she was 17 - a criminal offence in Italy. Karima, who calls herself Ruby, said she attended one of Mr Berlusconi's infamous "bunga bunga" parties at his Milan villa with other women.

Judge Cristina Di Censo ordered him to stand trial days after more than a million Italian women took to the streets to call for his resignation. Mr Berlusconi has stood trial before on business-related matters but this is the first time he is facing a criminal charge involving his personal conduct.

Prosecutors say Miss Mahroug was paid in cash, clothes and jewellery. They have stressed that even just "fondling her and not having intercourse" is still a crime as she was a minor at the time.

Prosecutors say that "numerous women were involved in the parties" but only one of them, Miss Mahroug, was underage and she is expected to give evidence in the trial.

According to the allegations the women at the parties dressed as nurses and police officers before performing stripteases for Mr Berlusconi who then paid them with cash and jewellery.

Miss Mahroug has said Mr Berlusconi gave her 7,000 euros on their first meeting.

In May last year it emerged Mr Berlusconi had called a Milan police station where Miss Mahroug was being held in custody after being accused of theft and asked for her to be released.

He claimed she was the granddaughter of the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and should be "freed immediately to avoid an embarrassing diplomatic incident."

Despite all the allegations against him Mr Berlusconi's ruling People of Freedom party is still leading the polls.

He said yesterday he had no intention of stepping down and dismissed the weekend of demonstrations.

Mr Berlusconi has said he has always tried to make women feel "special". He said: "Every woman that has had the opportunity to know me knows my regard for them.

"I have always behaved with the greatest attention and respect towards them. I have always made it so that every woman feels, how should I say, special."

Mr Berlusconi said the charges against him had "no correspondence with reality". His lawyers are expected to appeal against today's decision.

They have filed dozens of statements from female guests at the parties who insist they were not of a sexual nature but merely pleasant evenings of dinner and conversation, ranging from politics to gossip.

Prostitution is legal in Italy but having sex with a prostitute under the age of 18 is punishable by a jail term of up to three years while abuse of office carries a jail term of up to 12 years.

Elections are not due until 2013 but if a snap one was held he would win it as commentators have pointed out the centre-Left opposition is divided and weak.

The Timeline

April 2008: Berlusconi elected Italy's PM for a third time. Appoints ex-topless model Mara Carfagna as minister for equal opportunities.

May 2009: Wife Veronica Lario files for divorce amid claims he attended 18th birthday party of aspiring underwear model Noemi Letizia.

June 2009: Professional call-girl Patrizia D'Addario claims she was paid to spend the night with the PM. He denies paying for sex but admits he is "no saint". More women come forward.

October 2010: Karima El Mahroug, 17, Moroccan belly dancer and vice girl dubbed Ruby the Heart Stealer, claims she received 7,000 for attending a "bunga-bunga" sex party at his villa.

November 2010: Prostitute Nadia Macri, 28, claims she was paid 10,000 to have sex twice with the PM.

Jan-Feb 2011: Milan prosecutors investigate Berlusconi on suspicion of abuse of office and paying for sex with an under-age prostitute.

13 February: Hundreds of thousands of Italian women protest across the country to denounce Berlusconi's lack of morals.

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