Silvio Berlusconi ‘said Italian newspapers count for nothing’

Prosecutors have put him on trial and accused him of paying her for sex – a criminal offence under Italian law because she was under 18.

Mr Berlusconi denies the charges.

In one conversation, the prime minister told Miss Minetti to remain calm and that he would “always” protect her, describing journalists as “scoundrels”.

He expressed the hope that the teenager dancer was “out of the clutches of the prosecutors” and claimed that many Italians regarded him as a “martyr” because of his hounding by prosecutors.

In another call, Miss Minetti shared her concerns about the growing scandal with another showgirl while having a Brazilian wax treatment.

On one occasion, Miss Polanco asked the prime minister for 10,000 euros for her “expenses”.

Without hesitation he told her to visit his personal accountant the next morning to collect two payments of 5,000 euros.

He then told her not to say anything to journalists, who had bombarded her with calls. “Don’t say anything, because anything you say will be used against us.”

The intercepted calls were the latest batch of dozens which have been published this week on the website of La Repubblica, a national newspaper.

In a related development, prosecutors in the southern city of Bari called for a businessman who allegedly procured a steady supply of high-class escorts, models and actresses for Mr Berlusconi’s parties to be put on trial.

Giampaolo Tarantini is accused of recruiting around 40 women, telling them what to wear and how to behave, arranging hotels and flying them to Rome, Milan and Sardinia, where the former prime minister has his luxury homes.

He allegedly paid them from 1,000 to 5,000 euros to spend the night with the billionaire businessman.

Mr Tarantini allegedly recruited the women in the hope of ingratiating himself with the prime minister and advancing his business interests.

Prosecutors called for seven other people to be sent to trial alongside him, including Sabina Began, a model known as “the Queen Bee” of Mr Berlusconi’s inner circle.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes