Berlusconi named in US human trafficking report
October 31st, 2011 - 6:22 pm ICT by IANSWashington, Oct 31 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been named in a US government report on human trafficking, over his alleged sexual relationship with an underage Moroccan belly dancer.
Berlusconi, 75, is accused of having sexual relations with Karima El Mahroug, also known as Ruby, during one of his infamous “bunga bunga” parties at his luxurious villa near Milan when the girl was only 17 years old. She is believed to have been one of more than 30 women to attend the parties.
“In February 2011, judges set a trial date for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for the alleged commercial sexual exploitation of a Moroccan child,” the report said.
Based on media reports citing “evidence of third party involvement in the case”, the document’s authors came to the conclusion that “the girl was a victim of trafficking”.
“During the reporting period, the country’s (Italy) prime minister was investigated for facilitating child prostitution,” says the document, published in the US Department of State website.
The annual “Trafficking in Persons Report” is compiled from reports on human trafficking from 180 countries.
Italian opposition lawmakers have described Berlusconi’s inclusion in the report as “another shameful insult” for Italy.
Berlusconi’s trial for underage prostitution will resume in Milan next month. Both he and his alleged victim have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/dg
- Berlusconi faces witness manipulating charges - Apr 20, 2012
- My bungas were just clean fun: Berlusconi - Apr 21, 2012
- 'Berlusconi had sex with underage Moroccan 13 times' - Mar 16, 2011
- Prosecutors to request Berlusconi trial over 'Rubygate' - Feb 09, 2011
- Berlusconi had 13 'sexual acts' with under age hooker 'Ruby the Heart Stealer' - Mar 16, 2011
- Guests were naked at Berlusconi's bunga-bunga parties: Belly dancer - Feb 19, 2011
- Italian PM holds another bunga bunga party - Aug 04, 2011
- Italian PM's sex trial adjourned - Apr 06, 2011
- Berlusconi trial: Ruby 'can't wait' to tell her story - May 21, 2011
- Berlusconi's 'bunga bunga' pictures emerge - Mar 23, 2011
- Italy bars TV cameras from Berlusconi's 'Ruby' trial - Apr 01, 2011
- Berlusconi offered me bribe to alter belly dancer's birth certificate: Moroccan official - Mar 11, 2011
- Belly dancer at centre of Berlusconi sex probe 'was 16 when she was paid for sex' - Mar 16, 2011
- Berlusconi cracks a joke on `bunga bunga' - Mar 31, 2011
- Berlusconi says women smarter then men - Feb 14, 2011
Tags: alleged victim, belly dancer, bunga, child prostitution, commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, italian prime minister, karima, luxurious villa, opposition lawmakers, party involvement, prime minister silvio, prime minister silvio berlusconi, ria novosti, sexual relationship, silvio berlusconi, trafficking in persons, trafficking in persons report, us department of state, us government report