Berlusconi sex trial verdict expected June 24June 24, 2013 - 09:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An Italian court is expected to rule whether ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi paid for sex with an underage prostitute and abused his term in office, according to BBC News. Prosecutors at the trial in Milan are demanding a six-year sentence and a lifetime ban from public office. The 76-year-old media tycoon denies all the allegations. Berlusconi, who is already embroiled in several court cases, was given a four-year sentence for tax fraud in October 2012. He lost an appeal to overturn the conviction last week. The expected verdict Monday, June 24, could have major political repercussions for Italy, analysts say. They say a guilty ruling could weaken current Prime Minister Enrico Letta's coalition government which depends on the support of Berlusconi's center-right party. The prosecution in Milan says that women invited to Berlusconi's private residence for so-called "bunga-bunga" party evenings were part of a prostitution system set up for his personal sexual satisfaction. The allegations focus specifically on his relationship with Moroccan girl Karima El-Mahroug, known as "Ruby the Heart Stealer", whom he is accused of paying for sex in 2010. She was 17 at the time. Both she and Berlusconi have denied the allegations. El-Mahroug says she did receive 7,000 euros but it was as a gift after a party. She also told a separate trial last month that she had lied to investigators when she said she had bathed naked during parties held at the former prime minister's villa at Arcore, north-east of Milan. However, Prosecutor Ilda Boccassini told the Berlusconi trial during closing arguments last month that the young woman had lied when she denied having had sex with the former prime minister. She said El-Mahroug had received more than 4.5m euros from Berlusconi between October and December 2010. Berlusconi is also charged with abusing his power of office after calling a police station to press for the release of Mahroug from custody when she was arrested in Milan in a separate petty theft case. He has acknowledged the phone-call but says it was made as a favor to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose granddaughter he believed Mahroug to be. He told a TV program about the "bunga-bunga" broadcast on one of his Mediaset channels that he had "absolutely never had intercourse with Ruby". Prosecutors, whom Berlusconi accuses of waging a politicized campaign against him, want him to serve a one-year jail term on the charge of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and five years for abuse of office. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |