Berlusconi 'corrupted' Ruby with 7 million euros, allege prosecutors

(ANSA) - Milan, June 30 - Milan prosecutors believe that Silvio Berlusconi corrupted a young Moroccan woman called Ruby, who was at the centre of the 'bunga bunga' sex scandal, to give favourable evidence at criminal trials, transferring funds amounting to some seven million euros to her, ANSA sources said Tuesday. The prosecutors have completed the so-called so called Ruby Ter case probe into allegations Berlusconi bribed witnesses to perjure themselves during two trials. The ex-premier, Ruby and several other women who took part in so-called 'bunga bunga' parties at Berlusconi's home have been notified the investigation is closed. This step usually comes before prosecutors request indictments. Last year the supreme court definitively cleared the 78-year-old billionaire of underage prostitution charges in the main case because it said there was no proof Berlusconi knew Ruby was 17 at the time - one year under the legal limit for sex workers.
    The court said, however, that "paid acts of a sexual nature" took place between Berlusconi and Ruby, whose real name is Karima El Marough.
    She alleged used the money he gave her to set up a restaurant in Mexico, among other things, prosecutors allege. El Marough's former partner Luca Risso is suspected of laundering the seven million euros, the sources said. The case against two long-serving Berlusconi lawyers, Niccolò Ghedini and Piero Longo, is set to be dropped as they were not among the people notified of the end of the investigation.