Berlusconi 'paying Minetti 15,000 euros monthly'

(ANSA) Milan, February 20 - Former premier Silvio Berlusconi is giving a stipend of 15,000 euros a month to former regional councillor Nicole Minetti, a probe of alleged bribery of key witnesses in the Bunga Bunga trial against the media tycoon disclosed Friday.
    Details of the regular hefty payment to the ex premier's one-time dental hygienist were confirmed by his 'confidential treasurer,' the accountant Giuseppe Spinelli, judicial sources said.
    Minetti is not under investigation officially in the latest probe known as Ruby 3, which has focussed on payments by Berlusconi to some 20 young women who took part in the Forza Italia leader's sex parties.
    Minetti already was convicted of aiding and abetting prostitution and sentenced to a three year prison sentence for her part in recruiting girls for the parties.