Berlusconi indicted in prostitution probe

Scammer

Banned
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An Italian judge has ordered Premier Silvio Berlusconi to stand trial on charges he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl and then tried to cover it up.

Judge Cristina Di Censo handed down the indictment Tuesday. The trial is set to begin April 6.

Prosecutors allege Berlusconi paid for sex with a Moroccan girl nicknamed Ruby, who has since turned 18, then used his influence to get her out of police custody when she was detained for a suspected theft, allegedly fearing her relationship to him would be revealed.

Ruby, whose real name is Karima El Mahroug, ultimately was released into the custody of a Berlusconi aide who also is under investigation.

The prime minister's supporters argue he made the call to avoid a diplomatic incident, and that he believed at the time that the girl was the niece of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

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 prosecution said in a statement that they didn't believe the alleged crime was committed in the exercise of Berlusconi's institutional duties.

Prostitution isn't a crime in Italy, but exploiting or aiding prostitution with minors is.
 
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