Berlusconi's 'disgust' at sex trial call while backers claim it's persecution

Published on Wednesday 9 February 2011 15:11

BELEAUGURED Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday hit back at prosecutors' "disgusting" demands he be tried immediately over accusations he paid for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan girl and used his influence to try to cover it up.

The prosecutors, who filed their request in Milan, are seeking a trial as they believe there is overwhelming evidence against the controversial prime minister.

But dozens of his supporters rallied in the city against the move, some waving Italian flags across the street from the courthouse, with one woman wearing a placard reading "100 trials, zero convictions = persecution".

A judge must now decide whether to accept the prosecutors' request and indict Mr Berlusconi, or dismiss it. The decision is expected in the next two weeks.

Mr Berlusoni claimed the move was designed to topple his government.

The 74-year-old premier has a long history of legal woes and fierce battles with the Italian judiciary, which he accuses of being politically motivated against him. But this is the first judicial action that targets his private life and not his business dealings as a media mogul, raising new questions over how long he can hold on to power.

The case centres on his relationship with the Moroccan nightclub dancer nicknamed Ruby. Italian newspapers have been filled for weeks with salacious details about Mr Berlusconi's parties at his villas, based on wiretaps of conversations between women who attended them.

"It's shameful, really," Mr Berlusconi said of the prosecutors' move, which he claimed "offended the dignity of the country". He added: "I wonder who's going to pay for these activities that only have a subversive aim."

The prosecutors allege Mr Berlusconi paid for sex with Ruby, who has since turned 18, then used his influence to get her out of police custody when she was detained for the suspected theft of €3,000 (2,500), allegedly fearing their relationship would be revealed.Ruby was released into the custody of a Berlusconi aide who also is under investigation.

Paying for sex with a prostitute is not a crime in Italy, but it is if the prostitute is younger than 18.

The child prostitution charge carries a possible prison sentence of six months to three years; the abuse of influence charge, which experts say is more dangerous for Berlusconi, carries a possible sentence of four to 12 years.

Both Ruby and Mr Berlusconi have denied sexual relations.

The premier's supporters say he made the call to avoid a diplomatic incident because Mr Berlusconi believed at the time that the girl was the niece of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

"This is not an act that can be ascribed to his office," said prosecutor Edmondo Bruti Liberati. He said that, as prime minister, Mr Berlusconi does not have control of police forces, but in calling police he abused his influence.

His defence maintains the case should be handled not by the Milan prosecutors but by a special tribunal set up to deal with alleged offences committed by public officials.

The prosecutors have transferred a 782-page document to the office of the judge who has to make the decision including wiretaps of conversations among participants at Mr Berlusconi's parties. In some alleged conversations, Mr Berlusconi's house is described as a brothel with topless girls dancing around; the premier himself is described as a "caricature" by one guest.