Rome - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi described
Wednesday as 'trash,' news reports that prosecutors are examining
possible evidence that several women received money in exchange for
attending parties hosted by the premier.
Italy's most respected daily, Corriere della Sera, said the probe
stems from wiretapped conversations of businessmen based in the
southern city of Bari, in which they mentioned payments made to women
recruited for the parties.
Prosecutors are trying to verify whether such talk amounted to
'just boasting or if they referred to attempts to procure for the
purposes of prostitution,' Corriere della Sera said without citing
sources.
On Wednesday judicial authorities were not immediately available
to comment on the reports.
But Italy's main news agency ANSA, said 'prosecution sources,' in
Bari confirmed the existence of the probe.
Corriere della Sera accompanied its report with an interview with
a woman who said she had received 1,500 euros (2,076 dollars) for
attending a October 2008 party at Berlusconi's private residence in
Rome, Palazzo Grazioli.
Patrizia D'Addario also said that after attending another party at
Palazzo Grazioli where she stayed overnight, she received an offer to
stand as a candidate for Berlusconi's conservative People of Freedom
party in municipal elections in Bari.
D'Addario said she could prove she had attended the parties at
Berlusconi's residence, through 'taped recordings,' but did not
provide further details.
'Once again they are filling the newspapers with trash, but I will
not be conditioned by these attacks and as always, I will continue to
work for the good of the country,' Berlusconi said commenting on the
Corriere della Sera's report.
The media magnate-turned-politician's personal life has been the
focus of public scrutiny since late April, when a newspaper report
revealed he had attended the 18th birthday party of an aspiring
model.
Days later Berlusconi's wife Veronica Lario accused him of
'frequenting minors' and announced she was seeking a divorce.
Berlusconi has blamed a media 'conspiracy' and has denied having a
'spicy' affair with the woman.
On Tuesday, prosecutors in Rome indicated they would shelve an
investigation on whether Berlusconi abused his position by using
government flights to ferry guests to his luxury Sardinian residence,
Villa Certosa.
That probe stemmed from pictures shot by a photographer at an
airport near the Villa Certosa. The photographer also snapped scores
of photos of Berlusconi and his guests at Villa Certosa, including a
naked man and several topless women.
In late May, acting on a violation of privacy complaint lodged by
Berlusconi's lawyers, prosecutors placed the photographer under
investigation and seized hundreds of his photographs.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story