Silvio Berlusconi underage prostitution charges
Encyclopedia
Silvio Berlusconi
, former Prime Minister of Italy
, is accused of paying Moroccan
nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug – also known by the stage name Ruby Rubacuori (Italian for "Ruby Heartstealer") – for sexual services between February and May 2010 when she was under the age of 18Although neither sex with persons between the ages of 14&17 nor prostitution is illegal in Italy, paying a person under 18 for sex is a crime punishable by up to three years imprisonment. and, still more seriously under Italian law, for abuse of office (It. concussione) relating to her release from detention. While the investigators claim to have evidence from lawful interception
of mobile phone conversations, Berlusconi's lawyers deny the allegations, calling the investigation absurd and without foundation. The trial opened on 6 April 2011 and was adjourned until 31 May 2011.
after being accused of the theft of three thousand euros. Since she was not carrying any legal or identification documents
, the officers took her to the local police headquarters to identify her and for questioning. Since she was a minor under eighteen, a judge ordered the police to direct her to a shelter for juvenile offenders.
After a couple of hours, while she was being questioned, Berlusconi, who was at the time in Paris, called the head of the police in Milan and pressured for her release, claiming the girl was related to then President
Hosni Mubarak
of Egypt and that in order to avoid a diplomatic crisis, she was to be brought to the custody of Nicole Minetti. Following repeated telephone calls by Berlusconi to the police authorities, El Mahroug was eventually released and entrusted to Minetti's care.
Minetti was known for previous associations with Berlusconi, having danced for Colorado Cafe, a show on one of Berlusconi's TV channels
, and on Scorie, an Italian version of Candid Camera
. In November 2009 she became a dental hygienist, and shortly afterward treated Berlusconi for two broken teeth and facial injuries after he was attacked with a marble statue at a political rally. In February 2010, she was selected as one of the candidates representing Berlusconi's The People of Freedom
party, despite a lack of political experience, and was seated on the Regional Council of Lombardy
the following month.
The Guardian
reported that according to a series of media reports in October 2010, Berlusconi had met El Mahroug, then 17, through Nicole Minetti. Mahroug insisted that she had not slept with the then 74-year-old prime minister. She told Italian newspapers that she merely attended dinner at his mansion near Milan. El Mahroug said she sat next to Berlusconi, who later took her upstairs and gave her an envelope containing €7,000. She said he also gave her jewellery.
The Telegraph
reported 6 March that prosecutors were days from requesting charges against Emilio Fede
, a television anchorman, and Dario 'Lele' Mora, a well-known celebrity agent, for procuring underage girls in a 'vast pimping network' to attend 'bunga bunga
' sex parties with the prime minister. According to the prosecutors' dossier, Fede 'discovered' El Mahroug when acting as a judge at a beauty pageant in Sicily
in September 2009, and passed her on to the Mora's offices in central Milan
, which served as a 'form of "clearing centre" for women eager to enter the prime minister's circle in pursuit of money, gifts and help with their show business careers'.
is punished within a range of six months to three years imprisonment, while the crime of malfeasance in office
(Italian: :it:concussione) is more severely punished, from four years to twelve years imprisonment, as it is considered a type of extortion
committed by a public officer.
The fast-track trial opened on 6 April and was adjourned until 31 May. El Mahrougs' lawyer said that Marhroug would not be attaching herself to the case as a civil complainant and denies that she ever made herself available for money. Another alleged victim, Giorgia Iafrate, also decided not to be a party to the case.
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
, former Prime Minister of Italy
Prime minister of Italy
The Prime Minister of Italy is the head of government of the Italian Republic...
, is accused of paying Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug – also known by the stage name Ruby Rubacuori (Italian for "Ruby Heartstealer") – for sexual services between February and May 2010 when she was under the age of 18Although neither sex with persons between the ages of 14&17 nor prostitution is illegal in Italy, paying a person under 18 for sex is a crime punishable by up to three years imprisonment. and, still more seriously under Italian law, for abuse of office (It. concussione) relating to her release from detention. While the investigators claim to have evidence from lawful interception
Eavesdropping
Eavesdropping is the act of secretly listening to the private conversation of others without their consent, as defined by Black's Law Dictionary...
of mobile phone conversations, Berlusconi's lawyers deny the allegations, calling the investigation absurd and without foundation. The trial opened on 6 April 2011 and was adjourned until 31 May 2011.
Arrest of El Mahroug
On 27 May 2010, El Mahroug was arrested by the police in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
after being accused of the theft of three thousand euros. Since she was not carrying any legal or identification documents
Italian electronic identity card
The Carta d'Identità Elettronica , is a personal identification document that is replacing the paper-based ID card in Italy. The first Italian electronic ID cards were issued in 2001. As of 1 January 2006 the Italian government requires that paper based ID cards are replaced by EICs...
, the officers took her to the local police headquarters to identify her and for questioning. Since she was a minor under eighteen, a judge ordered the police to direct her to a shelter for juvenile offenders.
After a couple of hours, while she was being questioned, Berlusconi, who was at the time in Paris, called the head of the police in Milan and pressured for her release, claiming the girl was related to then President
President of Egypt
The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is the head of state of Egypt.Under the Constitution of Egypt, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Egyptian government....
Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
of Egypt and that in order to avoid a diplomatic crisis, she was to be brought to the custody of Nicole Minetti. Following repeated telephone calls by Berlusconi to the police authorities, El Mahroug was eventually released and entrusted to Minetti's care.
Minetti was known for previous associations with Berlusconi, having danced for Colorado Cafe, a show on one of Berlusconi's TV channels
Mediaset
Mediaset S.p.A., known as Gruppo Mediaset in Italian, is an Italian-based media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country...
, and on Scorie, an Italian version of Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
. In November 2009 she became a dental hygienist, and shortly afterward treated Berlusconi for two broken teeth and facial injuries after he was attacked with a marble statue at a political rally. In February 2010, she was selected as one of the candidates representing Berlusconi's The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom
The People of Freedom is a centre-right political party in Italy. With the Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties of the current Italian party system....
party, despite a lack of political experience, and was seated on the Regional Council of Lombardy
Regional Council of Lombardy
The Regional Council of Lombardy is the legislative assembly of Lombardy.It was first elected in 1970, when the ordinary regions were instituted, on the basis of the Constitution of Italy of 1948.-Composition:...
the following month.
The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported that according to a series of media reports in October 2010, Berlusconi had met El Mahroug, then 17, through Nicole Minetti. Mahroug insisted that she had not slept with the then 74-year-old prime minister. She told Italian newspapers that she merely attended dinner at his mansion near Milan. El Mahroug said she sat next to Berlusconi, who later took her upstairs and gave her an envelope containing €7,000. She said he also gave her jewellery.
Investigation
In January 2011, Berlusconi was placed under criminal investigation relating to El Mahroug for allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute and for abuse of office relating to her release from detention. Berlusconi's lawyers were quick to deny the allegations as "absurd and without foundation" and called the investigation a "serious interference with the private life of the Prime Minister without precedent in the judicial history of the country."The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported 6 March that prosecutors were days from requesting charges against Emilio Fede
Emilio Fede
Emilio Fede is an Italian anchorman, journalist and writer. He has been the director of TG1 , a news programme on Raiuno.-Biography:Fede was born in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Sicily....
, a television anchorman, and Dario 'Lele' Mora, a well-known celebrity agent, for procuring underage girls in a 'vast pimping network' to attend 'bunga bunga
Bunga bunga
Bunga bunga is a phrase of uncertain meaning that dates from 1910 if not earlier. By 2010 the phrase had gained popularity in Italy and the international press as well, when it was used by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to refer to his alleged sex parties, which caused a major...
' sex parties with the prime minister. According to the prosecutors' dossier, Fede 'discovered' El Mahroug when acting as a judge at a beauty pageant in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
in September 2009, and passed her on to the Mora's offices in central Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, which served as a 'form of "clearing centre" for women eager to enter the prime minister's circle in pursuit of money, gifts and help with their show business careers'.
Indictment of Berlusconi
On 15 February 2011, a judge indicted Berlusconi to stand trial. If convicted, the Prime Minister could face up to 15 years in prison. Paying for sex with a minor in ItalyProstitution in Italy
In Italy prostituzione is not illegal, but organized prostitution is prohibited. Brothels became illegal in 1959...
is punished within a range of six months to three years imprisonment, while the crime of malfeasance in office
Malfeasance in office
Malfeasance in office, or official misconduct, is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Malfeasance in office is often grounds for a for cause removal of an elected official by statute or recall election.An exact...
(Italian: :it:concussione) is more severely punished, from four years to twelve years imprisonment, as it is considered a type of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
committed by a public officer.
The fast-track trial opened on 6 April and was adjourned until 31 May. El Mahrougs' lawyer said that Marhroug would not be attaching herself to the case as a civil complainant and denies that she ever made herself available for money. Another alleged victim, Giorgia Iafrate, also decided not to be a party to the case.
See also
- Bunga bungaBunga bungaBunga bunga is a phrase of uncertain meaning that dates from 1910 if not earlier. By 2010 the phrase had gained popularity in Italy and the international press as well, when it was used by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to refer to his alleged sex parties, which caused a major...
- Sabina BeganSabina BeganSabina Beganović is a German actress of Bosnian descent who resides in Italy.Began is a friend of the Italian prime-minister Silvio Berlusconi and, as revealed to Sky Italia, she claims that her nickname is the origin of the controversial term bunga bunga, linked to the sex scandal involving...
- Controversies of Silvio Berlusconi
- Legal problems of Silvio Berlusconi