MSNBC is reporting that an Italian judge on Tuesday ordered Premier Silvio Berlusconi to stand trial on charges that he paid for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan girl and then tried to cover it up. Judge Cristina Di Censo handed down the indictment setting the trial date for April 6.
Recently, Berlusconi has stood trial on a number of business-related charges, but this is the first time the 74-year-old billionaire businessman is being tried for personal conduct, even though he has been embroiled in multiple sex scandals. Berlusconi has denied wrongdoing.
Prosecutors allege that Berlusconi paid for sex with the Moroccan girl, nicknamed "Ruby the Heart Stealer," then used his influence to get her out of police custody when she was detained for the unrelated suspected theft of $4,103. They allege that Berlusconi feared her relationship to him would be revealed. Both Berlusconi and Ruby have denied having sexual relations, although she has said Berlusconi gave her $9,550 on their first meeting.
The drama with Premier Berlusconi continues. We're wondering when he'll have enough integrity to step down from office. The ongoing controversies are ridiculous for anyone, let alone the leader of a country.
Read more at MSNBC.
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