Woman at centre of 'bunga, bunga' case presents book

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 16 - Karima El Mahroug, the woman at the centre of the scandal over so-called 'bunga-bunga' parties at ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's home, presented her autobiography in Milan on Thursday, the day after she, the media billionaire and 27 other people were acquitted in the third major trial linked to the case.
    The defendants were cleared of corruption in judicial acts over allegations that the Forza Italia leader bribed witnesses to lie about the nature of the parties.
    The original case regarded allegations Berlusconi paid El Mahroug for sex when she was still a minor - a charge he was acquitted of because he could not have known she was just 17 at the time.
    "In hindsight, I regret having entered Berlusconi's home," El Mahroug, who has Moroccan roots and was known as Ruby the Heart-stealer, told RTL radio before the book presentation.
    "Everything was manipulated. I am grateful that I made that acquaintance, but in the years that followed I regretted ending up in that house.
    "If I look back, I am proud of myself, of my path.
    "You have to forgive yourself, grow as a person and look ahead.
    "The last 13 years have been difficult but I don't disown that acquaintance.
    "I have had a gruelling experience with Italian justice, a difficult ordeal for a 17-year-old".
    Berlusconi and the 28 young women were acquitted after a judge ruled there could not have been witness tampering since the women were never formally witnesses, having not been deposed at the time of the parties.
    Prosecutors said they would appeal. (ANSA).