Former premier and centre-right Forza
Italia (FI) leader Silvio Berlusconi was indicted Wednesday for
bribing witnesses in one of the several branches of the
so-called Ruby Ter case, while an indictment was also sought in
Turin for another branch of the case.
The territorial division of the cases is due to the residence
of the witnesses.
The media magnate was indicted along with singer Mariano
Apicella, who is accused of corruption and giving false
testimony.
The trial will start on November 23.
In all the Ruby Ter cases the three-time ex-premier is
accused of bribing witnesses, mostly young women, to lie under
oath about the true nature of his bunga binga sex parties.
In Turin, prosecutors requested that Berlusconi be sent to
trial in relation to the Piedmont leg of the Ruby Ter probe.
Berlusconi has always insisted his parties were harmless,
elegant soirees.
The Turin trial prosecutors also requested that a former
nurse, Roberta Bonasia, be indicted.
The case was adjourned until June 1.
In March a Milan court indicted Berlusconi and four young
women who were guests at the parties in a separate part of the
probe.
The ex-premier is also on trial in the main branch of the
Ruby Ter case, with 23 other defendants.
The Turin case is one of many stemming from the case of an
underage alleged prostitute nicknamed Ruby.
Berlusconi was convicted of paying for sex with her but then
acquitted on the grounds he did not know her age.
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