yahoo- His penchant for beautiful young women has cost him his wife, and now may cost Silvio Berlusconi what he cherishes most: power.
The 74-year-old Italian premier was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges he paid a 17-year-old Moroccan girl for sex, and then used his influence to cover it up -- an offense that, if proven, could see him barred permanently from public office.
Berlusconi has called the allegations "groundless" and dismissed the case as a "farce," accusing prosecutors of seeking to oust him from power. He did not comment Tuesday, skipping a news conference in Sicily and meeting with his lawyer in Rome.
Unlike Berlusconi's many past legal problems involving business-related charges concerning his Mediaset empire, this time he faces allegations of personal misconduct while serving as the head of government. The trial is set to begin April 6 before a panel of three female judges.
The indictment alleges Berlusconi paid for sex with the Moroccan girl, nicknamed Ruby, then used his influence to get her out of police custody when she was detained in connection with an unrelated theft of $4,103 (euro3,000). Prosecutors say Berlusconi called police the night of May 27-28, 2010, because he feared his relationship with the teen would be revealed.
The child prostitution charge carries a possible prison term of six months to three years. However, the abuse of influence charge is even more dangerous: It carries a sentence of four to 12 years, and if Berlusconi is sentenced to more than five, he would be barred from ever again holding public office.
Both Berlusconi and the now 18-year-old Moroccan nightclub dancer deny having had sex together. Ruby, in a TV interview on a Mediaset channel, said Berlusconi gave her $9,000 (euro7,000) the evening they met, and later jewelry.
What a gentleman. Most men in his position would probably just have the underage whore they were banging killed once she got into legal trouble. But not Berlusconi. He used his power to get her out of jail, and presumably, back into his bedroom. A noble move to say the least. So of course when questioned, Ruby denied that they ever had sex. The only problem was that she admitted he gave her $9,000 and jewelry. C'mon Ruby, use your head! What kind of pathetic loser would give a 17 year old belly dancer/ hooker that kind of scratch without getting any ass in return? Certainly not a guy with his own media empire and a badass name like Silvio.
P.S. Isn't it funny that in Italy, abuse of influence is way worse than paying an underage girl to fuck you? Good luck with those 3 female judges, Silvio. Tough draw.
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