Berlusconi 'in prostitution probe'

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in a prostitution case involving a then-17-year-old Moroccan girl, Italy's leading newspaper reported today.

Corriere della Sera said in its online edition that the 74-year-old premier is suspected of abusing his power in trying to cover up his alleged encounters with the girl, nicknamed Ruby.

Berlusconi's office said it had no immediate comment.

The case became public months ago, when it emerged that Berlusconi had intervened to secure the release from police custody of the girl, who had previously been at his villa.

Berlusconi said at the time that he had done nothing wrong, and that he had only intervened to help someone in need. The girl denied having sex with the premier.

The ANSA news agency said Milan prosecutors today summoned Berlusconi.

The Corriere newspaper said police were searching the offices of two of his aides.

The office of Milan prosecutor Antonio Sangermano said he was not available for comment.

The probe, if confirmed, will be the latest development in Berlusconi's long history of legal woes. A day earlier, a law shielding the premier from two, unrelated trials in Milan was significantly watered down by a ruling of Italy's Constitutional Court.

The Ruby case became public months ago when it emerged that Berlusconi had intervened to secure the release from police custody of the girl known as Ruby Rubacuori (Ruby the Heartstealer), who had been held for theft.

Berlusconi said at the time that he had done nothing wrong, and that he had only intervened to help someone in need.

The girl said in newspaper interviews that she had been at the premier's villa and that she lied about being over 18. She denied having sex with the premier.

The girl has in the meantime turned 18.

According to Corriere, the prosecutors allege that Berlusconi abused his power when he called Milan police on the night of May 27-28 to secure the release of the girl.

The prosecutors believe he did so because he wanted to hide the fact that he had been with her, according to the report.

Daniele Capezzone, a spokesman for Berlusconi's party, said the latest legal case would fail. "If someone ... still believes that Silvio Berlusconi can be defeated through judicial means, once again they will be sorely disappointed."