Karima El Mahroug, the woman
at the centre of the 'bunga-bunga' sex-party scandal that hit
ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, was among 23 people indicted in
Milan on Wednesday over testimony at a previous trial related to
the case.
They are accused of various charges of corruption in
judicial proceedings and giving false testimony. The trial will
start January 11. The case against Silvio Berlusconi is being
dealt with separately after he was unable to attend a hearing
this month because he was in the United States for a checks and
treatment after undergoing heart surgery earlier this year.
The other 22 defendants include Luca Giuliante, the
former lawyer of El Mahroug, an ex dancer of Moroccan origin
also known as Ruby Heartstealer, journalist Carlo Rossella and
Senator Mariarosaria Rossi. In the first trial linked to the
case, Berlusconi was convicted of paying Ruby for sex while she
was a minor, but was acquitted on appeal on the grounds that
there was no proof that the media magnate knew she was under 18
at the time.
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