Ruby-ter trial: 10 million euros claimed from Berlusconi for “global discredit”
The lawyer for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers requested financial compensation of more than 10 million euros from the Cavaliere peu for the damages of the Ruby-ter case, still in progress.
It is a scandal that Italy would have done well without. Twelve and after the first revelations about Silvio Berlusconi’s “bunga bunga” parties in his sumptuous villa in Arcore, the Ruby-ter affair continues to splash the transalpine political class.
Facts dating back to the early 2010s
Originally, the former President of the Council is suspected of having encouraged the prostitution of a minor, Karima El Mahroug, who gave her stage name (Ruby Rubacuori) to the trial. The evenings in the company of the “Olgettine” (participants in the receptions of the Cavaliere) challenge the press and alert the Italian justice. In June 2013, Berlusconi was sentenced to seven years in prison and life ineligibility for incitement to prostitution of a minor and abuse of power. The sulphurous politician was accused of having usurped his power as President of the Council by personally calling the head of the Milan police to release the “thief of hearts”, then herself accused of having stolen 3,000 euros worth of jewelry. But in July 2014, the “caiman” was acquitted by the Milan Court of Appeal, a decision confirmed by the Court of Cassation a year later.
Suspicions of corruption during the Ruby-ter trial
The cases between Berlusconi and justice are however not finished. Twelve years after the start of the scandal, prosecutors Tiziana Siciliano and Luca Gaglio asked for a 6-year prison sentence for the “papi”, this time accused of corruption in judicial acts during the trial of the Ruby-ter affair. Karima El Mahroug and the twenty former participants of the “Bunga Bunga” evenings are also charged with perjury. In question, “an income of 2,500 euros and a roof” provided by Berlusconi in exchange for lies in court. The Cavaliere’s entourage is also targeted, with the questioning of Senator Maria Rosaria Rossi and journalist Carlo Rossella. In addition, a little more than 10 million are claimed by justice from Berlusconi as well as the confiscation of four of his houses.
A trial synonymous with “global discredit”
But the legal penalties required do not stop there. The lawyer of the Presidency of the Council, Gabriella Vanadia, revealed that “all the defendants should be sentenced to compensation in favor of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers” in order to repair the image damage caused to the function and to the international representation of Italy. The amount demanded is “10 million for corruption in legal proceedings and 500,000 euros for false testimony”.
Forza Italia, the Cavaliere’s political party, reacted by denouncing: “Once again, justice is used for political ends”. The prosecution not having to decide before September, many twists and turns can still intervene in a case which continues to shake the Italian political class.
Clement Lefebvre