Silvio Berlusconi is still
paying Ruby the Heartstealer and other alleged prostitutes for
their silence about the real nature of his bunga bunga parties,
Milan investigators said Wednesday.
Berlusconi allegedly recently paid for a lavish birthday
party for the baby daughter of Ruby, whose real name is Karima
El Mahroug and who prosecutors say worked as an underage
prostitute while she attended the parties in 2010.
The 7,000-euro party paid for in cash to former nightclub
dancer Ruby was just one of several big cash handouts the
ex-premier made via various factotums, they said.
Another allegedly funded a nine-day Maldives holiday for
two people with an estimated cost of 60-90,000 euros, while Ruby
also spent large amounts on haute couture.
The handouts of 14-15,000 euros each were made by people
acting for Berlusconi in Milan and at Ruby's home in Genoa,
investigators said.
On Tuesday police searched the homes of Ruby and another 20
young women who attended the parties at Berlusconi's villa
outside Milan, in a probe into suspected bribes by the media
magnate for them to keep mum about the real, sexual nature of
the parties, prosecutors said.
All the women allegedly had a lifestyle out of all
proportion with their declared income, investigators said.
Unlike Ruby, who was paid by various people, all the others
were allegedly on the payroll of Berlusconi's trusted
'treasurer', Giuseppe Spinelli.
Berlusconi was cleared on appeal last year of knowingly
having sex with Ruby when she was 17, one year below the legal
age to be a sex worker.
Judges upheld the three-time premier's assertion he did not
know she was underage.
Berlusconi was also acquitted of abusing his position as
premier to spring Ruby from a Milan police station where she was
being held on an unrelated theft claim.
The home of Ruby's lawyer Luca Giuliante was also searched
Tuesday as part of the probe and his computer reportedly seized
along with documents.
Investigators said Tuesday's searches followed the
discovery of new probative elements including recent movements
on bank accounts.
Over 40 people are implicated in the new probe into
suspected corruption in judicial proceedings and false testimony
including Berlusconi, his historic lawyers Niccolo'
Ghedini and Piero Longo, Ruby, Giuliante and many of the young
women who took part in the bunga bunga parties at the
ex-premier's private residence at Arcore.
Investigations began in January 2014 after Milan judges
published their reasons for separate first-instance convictions
of Berlusconi and of former TV anchor Emilio Fede, ex-talent
scout Lele Mora and dental-hygienist-turned Lombardy councillor
Nicole Minetti for pimping for the three-time premier.
Berlusconi was subsequently acquitted on appeal last July
on grounds there was no proof he knew Ruby was 17 at the time,
while the conviction of Fede, Mora and Mienti was upheld on
appeal in November.
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