The former Italian prime minister and leader of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi, has been acquitted Wednesday of corruption charges surrounding the so-called ‘Ruby’ case, a scandal unleashed in the wake of a series of private parties in which he allegedly offered sex with underage prostitutes.
A Milan city court has decided to exonerate him after a two-hour closed court hearing. The judges’ ruling comes six years after the investigation against Berlusconi was launched for allegedly paying some 10 million euros to witnesses during an inquiry into his relationship with dancer Karima el Mahroug, known as ‘Ruby’, when she was still a minor.
The former president has repeatedly reiterated his innocence and defended that it was «generous» to reward those who had seen their lives «ruined» by the judicial investigation in question, according to information from the Adnkronos agency.
Both Berlusconi and 28 other people were also accused of giving false testimony in the two trials developed by the ‘Ruby’ case. The witnesses obtained money and other benefits, according to the accusation.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
