Ruby the Heartstealer, a former
alleged underaged prostitute who attended parties at Silvio
Berlusconi's villa outside Milan, invoked her right to remain
silent during a judicial interrogation Monday.
The questioning of the woman, whose real name is Karima El
Mahroug, is part of an investigation Silvio Berlusconi and 21
other witnesses who are accused of false testimony and
corruption in judicial acts.
According to prosecutors, Ruby received at least five
million euros from Berlusconi for her silence on the witness
stand about the real nature of his so-called bunga bunga
parties.
The prosecutor's office has indicated that Berlusconi may
have paid off through February 17 of this year witnesses who
were involved in a trial in which the court cleared the
78-year-old billionaire of the underage prostitution charge
because it said there was no proof he knew Ruby was 17 at the
time.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
