Fede, Minetti, Mora convictions upheld in Ruby case

(ANSA) - Milan, November 13 - Convictions against three associates of Silvio Berlusconi for providing prostitutes for sex parties at the three-time premier's home were upheld by a Milan appeals court on Thursday, although the sentences were reduced. Emilio Fede, the former director of news at one of Berlusconi's TV channels, got a four year, 10 month jail term and Berlusconi's former dental hygienist Nicole Minetti got three years. Former talent scout Lele Mora was given a prison term of six years, one month. At the first-instance trial Mora and Fede were both given seven-year prison sentences and banned for life from public office while Minetti was sentenced to five years in prison and banned from office for as many years.
    In a separate trial in July, the Milan appeals court cleared Berlusconi of paying for sex with a then-underage prostitute called Ruby the Heartstealer and of abusing his office in trying to cover up the case.
    In its explanation of that ruling, the court said "paid acts of a sexual nature" took place between Berlusconi and Ruby, whose real name is Karima El Marough, but said it cleared the billionaire because there here was no proof he knew Ruby was 17 at the time.