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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is alleged to have showered a string of showgirls and prostitutes with luxury cars worth almost a quarter-of-a-million pounds, it has emerged.
Berlusconi is reported to have bought 13 vehicles including five Minis, four Mercedes Smart cars, a £60 000 Land Rover and a Volkswagen Beetle.
Details of the lavish “love” gifts emerged in evidence submitted by prosecutors in Milan over an investigation into prostitution surround the prime minister.
Berlusconi (74) has been ordered to stand trial in Milan on April 6 on a charge of sex with an under age prostitute and abuse of power after he allegedly sought her release from police custody on a theft charge in May 2010.
Last week, it was revealed that Berlusconi lavished a teenage belly dancer dubbed “Ruby the heart stealer” with expensive gifts totalling £200 000.
Karima El-Mahroug allegedly received two Rolex watches, one of which was worth £45 000, and £15 000 fur coat.
She was also given a £12 000 diamond necklace made by Recarlo, a Valenza-based design jeweller which provided rings that Berlusconi gave to 24 women MPs and 13 Senators at Christmas.
Berlusconi is said to have promised her a new Audi car but the latest revelations show the first time that cars have been bought for any of his inner circle of attractive females.
The latest details have revealed that he allegedly bought the cars with money from an account in his name or indirectly through his accountant, according to prosecutors.
The gifts are said to have been given to an inner circle of attractive females including showgirls and alleged prostitutes named in the investigation.
Berlusconi has denied all the allegations and claimed that he is being persecuted by a politically biased judiciary and Left-wing opposition.
“Ruby the heart stealer”, whom a large part of the prosecution centres around, denies ever having sexual relations with Berlusconi but said he gave her several gifts and large sums of cash because “he felt sorry for her”.
She is one of a string of women who are alleged to have taken part in naked “bunga bunga” parties at the prime minister’s villa.
Statements leaked earlier this month revealed that Ruby told investigators: “Everyone was naked at the bunga bunga parties and when I was in the police station Silvio was scared.”
Mahroug also told prosecutors she was convinced Berlusconi had sex with lingerie model Noemi Letizia (20), who was first linked to Berlusconi in 2009 when it emerged he had attended her 18th birthday party.
Berlusconi has continued as prime minister amidst the furore surrounding the scandal. – Daily Mail.