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Berlusconi to face under-age sex trial in April
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Berlusconi to face under-age sex trial in April
AFP - Wednesday, February 16
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ROME (AFP) - – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will go on trial in April over allegations that he paid a 17-year-old girl for sex and abused his power by trying to get her cleared of theft, a judge ruled on Tuesday.
Granting a request by Milan magistrates, Judge Cristina Di Censo said the first hearing would take place on April 6, in a move that brings a long-running probe into the premier's private life to a head.
Following the announcement, the prime minister's camp reiterated its claims that Berlusconi was the victim of a witch hunt by his political opponents.
"We didn't expect anything else," his lawyers said. Profile of Berlusconi
Berlusconi, whose bedroom antics sparked a nationwide protest by Italian women on the weekend, will be tried by three female judges.
In the trial, the prime minister will have to answer allegations that he paid for sex with a nightclub dancer called "Ruby the Heart Stealer," who was 17 at the time.
He is also accused of persuading police to release Ruby after she was arrested for alleged theft, and hand her over to Nicole Minetti, the prime minister's former dental hygienist and a regional representative for his party.
Berlusconi's defence claim he did not abuse his power because he mistakenly believed Ruby to be the niece of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and had been dutifully helping a fellow leader avoid diplomatic fallout.
His critics said the guilt-ridden lover was attempting to keep his links with the young Moroccan out of the public eye.
Berlusconi has denied ever paying for sex, let alone with Ruby -- whose real name is Karima El Mahroug -- and who only turned 18 in November 2010.
While using the services of prostitutes is not a crime in Italy, paying for sex with a girl under the age of 18 is illegal and carries a prison term.
Italy's justice minister said the prime minister was "presumed innocent" until proven guilty and should not resign. Even if Berlusconi is sentenced, he would not be considered guilty until the supreme court confirms the ruling.
"There are neither crimes nor victims," said Daniele Capezzone, spokesman for Berlusconi's ruling Democratic Party.
"The left-wing, beaten in the elections and in parliament, is trying to use justice" against the prime minister. "They won't succeed," he added.
The accusations come as part of a probe into the premier's private life which have sent Italian media into a frenzy, splashing rumours of orgies with prostitutes and would-be show girls over the front pages.
The public slanging match between Berlusconi, the opposition and magistrates over the allegations caused alarm among business leaders and unions, who said the government should be concentrating on Italy's real problems.
"This country has a right to ask that the huge economic crisis be taken care of, rather than continuing to deal with the private rooms of the premier," said Susanna Camusso, the head of Italy's main union CGIL, after the ruling.
Berlusconi's party blamed the left-wing opposition for preventing the government from tending to the country's vast public debt or dealing with the influx of thousands of illegal immigrants to Italy over the last few days.
"Trials against the prime minister are the only politics the left are capable of," said Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo.
"It is sad that this is happening when the country is facing an assault of biblical proportions on our coasts (and) while the government is busy relaunching of the economy," she added.
It is not the first time the premier has been mired in a sex scandal. In May 2009, Berlusconi was accused of frequenting another 17-year old, Noemi Letizia, who called him "papi", provoking his wife to file for divorce.
A month later, escort Patrizia D'Addario released audio recordings of her torrid nights with the prime minister and photos of his residence and details recently emerged of possible dalliances with a Brazilian under-age prostitute.
Finally called to trial, Berlusconi faces three years in prison if found guilty of paying minors for sex, and from six to 12 years for abuse of power.
Berlusconi's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini has said he will appeal and request to send the motion to a vote in the Chamber of Deputies, where Berlusconi's centre-right ruling party has the majority.
The prime minister has previously refused to obey summons for questioning, claiming the magistrates based in Milan were not qualified to handle the case.
But since a top court partially stripped him of political immunity in January, the Italian leader will have to justify not appearing in court.
The Rubygate case brings the number of trials currently involving Berlusconi to three.
It will be a tough few months for the prime minister, who also faces old charges including tax fraud and witness corruption in trials that will resume in February and March.
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