Sex trial bribe charge is blow for Berlusconi’s premier hopes

SILVIO BERLUSCONI’S hopes of once again becoming prime minister of Italy suffered a blow last night after he was ordered to stand trial on charges of bribing a witness in a sex trial.

The 81-year-old former premier is accused of having bribed a witness to give false testimony in a trial four years ago in which he was accused of paying for sex with an underage prostitute, a Moroccan-born belly dancer who called herself Ruby the Heart Stealer.

The trial will begin in Siena, in Tuscany, in February. It means that Mr Berlusconi will be on trial, accused of a serious offence, at the same time that he tries to make a political comeback as the leader of a centre-right coalition.

A general election must be called by May, although the exact date has not yet been announced.

Mr Berlusconi is already under investigation for bribing witnesses in other jurisdictions and this latest trial will not stop him standing for office.

He has been accused by prosecutors of bribing the actresses and starlets who attended so-called “bunga bunga” parties at his holiday villa in Sardinia and his residence near Milan.

In the trial due to open in Siena, he is accused of paying €3,000 (£2,600) a month to Danilo Mariani, a pianist who allegedly provided musical accompaniment to some of the parties.

In a separate but related case in Turin, Mr Berlusconi is accused of bribing a model, Roberta Bonasia, to also lie about the parties.