ROME: A Milan court will decide today whether Silvio Berlusconi paid for sex with an underage prostitute and abused his powers to cover it up, with the former Italian prime minister facing a jail sentence of up to six years.
The verdict, which could have major political repercussions, closes a two-year trial which has captivated attention on billionaire Berlusconi’s alleged “bunga bunga” sex parties in his private villa outside Milan while he was premier in 2010.
If the 76-year-old is found guilty it could weaken Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s fragile, left-right coalition government which depends on the centre-right leader’s support for its survival.
Several members of Berlusconi’s People of Freedom party have urged him to withdraw his support and he may be more tempted to do so if he decides his backing for Letta is giving him no legal protection.
Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with former nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, alias “Ruby the Heartstealer”, when she was under 18, and of abuse of office to get her released from police custody on a separate occasion.
He denies all wrongdoing and says he is being persecuted by left-wing prosecutors. He says the alleged sex parties were elegant dinners where the female guests performed “burlesque” shows. El Mahroug denies having sex with Berlusconi.
Prosecutors say Berlusconi should serve one year in jail for paying for sex with a minor and should be given five years’ imprisonment and a life ban from holding public office for the abuse of office charge, which they consider more serious.
Reuters
