Berlusconi laughs off sex crime trial

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday accused Italy’s judges of being out to get him and laughed off his ongoing sex crime trial as he returned to court on fraud charges in a separate trial.

“The prosecutors are working against the country,” Mr Berlusconi told reporters in the courtroom, as some 200 supporters outside held up placards reading “Silvio Resist!” and clutched blue balloons from his People of Freedom party.

He said there should be an overhaul of Italy’s justice system to prevent it becoming “a weapon of political struggle” - after his government earlier this year proposed reforms seen as curbing the power of investigating magistrates.

The Prime Minister also condemned his trial on charges of alleged sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power which began last week.

The accusations were “laughable, unfounded and crazy”, he said.

Mr Berlusconi admitted he had given money to the woman in question - then 17-year-old nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, better known as “Ruby the Heart Stealer” ­- but said it was in order “to allow her not to prostitute herself”.

“The girl told me and everyone else present her painful story and I was moved,” Mr Berlusconi said, adding that he had given her tens of thousands of euros to allow her to buy equipment to set up a beauty salon.

Twice-divorced Berlusconi, 74, is accused of paying for sex on several occasions last year with Ms El Mahroug and then abusing his status to get her released from police custody in a later incident to cover up his alleged crime.