| Published on: | 2011-02-09 23:08:17 |
A new chapter has started in the Silvio Berlusconi book of scandals.
Milan prosecutors have requested an immediate trial for the Italian PM on charges of paying for sex with an under-age girl and abuse of power.
In this particular case, a judge will have five days to decide whether or not Silvio Berlusconi should go on trial. She can also opt to set up a pre-trial hearing to hear the evidence relating to the juvenile prostitution charge before reaching a decision.
The girl in question, now 18, is a Moroccan nightclub dancer called Karima el Mahroug, nicknamed Ruby by the media due to the previous “Ruby case” that the PM was associated with. Miss Mahroug was 17 years old when Mr Berlusconi allegedly paid her for sex.
After that, the PM intervened to get her released from custody when she was detained for the alleged theft of €3,000 ($4,103) by police. Mr Berlusconi justified this action as one of pity.
Mr Berlusconi denies the sex allegations, saying they are politically motivated. Miss Mahroug, for her part, also denied having sexual relations with the Italian PM.
However, Prosecution Chief, Edmondo Bruti Liberati, believes that there is “evidence enough” to investigate further and send him to a “fast-track trial that could begin in the next few months,” according to Duncan Kenney from BBC Rome.
According to CBSNEWS, in a statement last Friday, Mr Berlusconi called the investigations "absurd" and noted he has been investigated over 100 times, yet never convicted.
“I don't understand what kind of defence arguments his lawyers are using,” said Dr Mark Donovan, Convener in MScEcon Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University, who spoke exclusively to The Fresh Outlook.
“In principle, Berlusconi can be brought to trial for ordinary criminal matters as any other citizen,” said Dr Donovan, commenting on whether or not the high status of Mr Berlusconi might protect him against being sentenced.
Regarding this political impunity, Dr Donovan explained that three attempts have been made by successive governments to gain immunity for senior state officers, such as the president of the Republic and the prime minister. “The first two were overturned by the Constitutional Court, the third partially over-turned, leaving it up to judges to determine when a government minister (including the prime minister) was and was not able to collaborate with investigating officers.”
“However, verdicts at the first and second levels can be appealed, and only become unequivocally actionable when confirmed by the Supreme Court (third level).” In Dr Donovan's opinion, the Italian PM can be convicted, but it will take a long time.
Although paying for sex in now currently illegal in Italy, it is also illegal to have sexual relations with someone who is under age. If sentenced for the two offences, the Italian PM could see a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
La stanza del bunga bunga
But while Mr Berlusconi keeps on dismissing his trials, Italian society is becoming more influenced by the vicissitudes of its PM.
“Berlusconi is no mere MP, he is the prime minister and the man who has brought together an alliance of social and political forces able to win elections - and which has governed Italy for most of this past decade (2001-06 and 2008-present),” states Dr Donovan.
The Italian national newspaper Repubblica has included an online map of the room where Mr Berlusconi allegedly held his sex parties. The interactive webpage is called La stanza del bunga bunga, which translates roughly to “the room of the sex party.”
Not in many countries will you find a sketch of the room where your PM had a “bunga bunga” in a national newspaper. The question now might be: for how long will Mr Berlusconi remain in power and what will bring him out of it?
“It is argued that no one else could have done this, and once he had established his dominance, back in the mid-late 1990s, no one could effectively challenge him. He is simply too powerful,” claims Dr Donovan.
As Italo Bocchino, an Italian parliamentarian, told the Guardian: "When people ask me when the Berlusconi era will come to an end, I answer: 'In two days, two months or two years'."
By Eva Fernandez
Milan prosecutors have requested an immediate trial for the Italian PM on charges of paying for sex with an under-age girl and abuse of power.
In this particular case, a judge will have five days to decide whether or not Silvio Berlusconi should go on trial. She can also opt to set up a pre-trial hearing to hear the evidence relating to the juvenile prostitution charge before reaching a decision.
The girl in question, now 18, is a Moroccan nightclub dancer called Karima el Mahroug, nicknamed Ruby by the media due to the previous “Ruby case” that the PM was associated with. Miss Mahroug was 17 years old when Mr Berlusconi allegedly paid her for sex.
After that, the PM intervened to get her released from custody when she was detained for the alleged theft of €3,000 ($4,103) by police. Mr Berlusconi justified this action as one of pity.
Mr Berlusconi denies the sex allegations, saying they are politically motivated. Miss Mahroug, for her part, also denied having sexual relations with the Italian PM.
However, Prosecution Chief, Edmondo Bruti Liberati, believes that there is “evidence enough” to investigate further and send him to a “fast-track trial that could begin in the next few months,” according to Duncan Kenney from BBC Rome.
According to CBSNEWS, in a statement last Friday, Mr Berlusconi called the investigations "absurd" and noted he has been investigated over 100 times, yet never convicted.
“I don't understand what kind of defence arguments his lawyers are using,” said Dr Mark Donovan, Convener in MScEcon Politics and International Relations at Cardiff University, who spoke exclusively to The Fresh Outlook.
“In principle, Berlusconi can be brought to trial for ordinary criminal matters as any other citizen,” said Dr Donovan, commenting on whether or not the high status of Mr Berlusconi might protect him against being sentenced.
Regarding this political impunity, Dr Donovan explained that three attempts have been made by successive governments to gain immunity for senior state officers, such as the president of the Republic and the prime minister. “The first two were overturned by the Constitutional Court, the third partially over-turned, leaving it up to judges to determine when a government minister (including the prime minister) was and was not able to collaborate with investigating officers.”
“However, verdicts at the first and second levels can be appealed, and only become unequivocally actionable when confirmed by the Supreme Court (third level).” In Dr Donovan's opinion, the Italian PM can be convicted, but it will take a long time.
Although paying for sex in now currently illegal in Italy, it is also illegal to have sexual relations with someone who is under age. If sentenced for the two offences, the Italian PM could see a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
La stanza del bunga bunga
But while Mr Berlusconi keeps on dismissing his trials, Italian society is becoming more influenced by the vicissitudes of its PM.
“Berlusconi is no mere MP, he is the prime minister and the man who has brought together an alliance of social and political forces able to win elections - and which has governed Italy for most of this past decade (2001-06 and 2008-present),” states Dr Donovan.
The Italian national newspaper Repubblica has included an online map of the room where Mr Berlusconi allegedly held his sex parties. The interactive webpage is called La stanza del bunga bunga, which translates roughly to “the room of the sex party.”
Not in many countries will you find a sketch of the room where your PM had a “bunga bunga” in a national newspaper. The question now might be: for how long will Mr Berlusconi remain in power and what will bring him out of it?
“It is argued that no one else could have done this, and once he had established his dominance, back in the mid-late 1990s, no one could effectively challenge him. He is simply too powerful,” claims Dr Donovan.
As Italo Bocchino, an Italian parliamentarian, told the Guardian: "When people ask me when the Berlusconi era will come to an end, I answer: 'In two days, two months or two years'."
By Eva Fernandez
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia]
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