Milan court rejects Berlusconi bid to halt sex trial

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Milan court on Monday, Jan 14, rejected a bid by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to halt his sex-for-hire trial because of Italy's general election campaign, a ruling that means a verdict could come before the February vote, The Associated Press reports.

Berlusconi's lawyers also decided not to call the Moroccan woman at the center of the case, Karima el-Mahroug, to testify, saying her testimony would have "interfered with the serenity of the electoral campaign."

But they asked to hear from six more witnesses instead, including actor George Clooney, who has said he visited the premier's residence once.

El-Mahroug, better known as Ruby, had appeared in court on Monday ready to testify after having failed to show on two previous dates, purportedly because she was in Mexico on vacation.

Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with the 20-year-old when she was 17 during his notorious "bunga bunga" parties — racy soirees at his villas in which dozens of young women were present — and then using his office to cover it up. Both deny sexual contact.

Berlusconi has apologized for hosting the parties, saying he was lonely after splitting from his second wife. Veronica Laria left him in 2009, citing alleged dalliances with young women.

Berlusconi attorney Niccolo Ghedini had filed a motion to suspend the proceeding, citing the demands of Italy's election campaign. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that Berlusconi was neither the formal head of his party nor its official candidate for premier, and that he has infrequently shown up for trail anyway, as is his right.

In their ruling, the judges said Berlusconi's absences for a political campaign were a personal choice and couldn't be compared with having a parliamentary obligation — which has been accepted as a legitimate reason to delay a trial.

Ghedini said that in allowing the trial to go ahead, it was clear the court wanted to see a verdict before the Feb. 24-25 election.