Dinner parties turned into the unspeakable: Berlusconi
October 22nd, 2011 - 1:31 pm ICT by IANSRome, Oct 22 (IANS/AKI) Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, known worldwide for his libido boasts, described parties he hosted in Rome as high-class soirees that evolved into scandalous affairs.
“They were elegant, nice and happy dinners that transformed into something unspeakable,” he told a conference of supporters in Rome Thursday, referring to dinner parties at his Palazzo Grazzioli residence in the Italian capital.
Italian prosecutors last month concluded a two-year investigation into a prostitution scandal associated with Berlusconi by charging eight people with allegedly providing the billionaire politician with dozens of escorts for parties he hosted.
According to investigators, around 30 prostitutes were provided for parties at his Palazzo Grazioli and other homes where they received cash and gifts from Berlusconi who is worth almost $8 billion, according to Forbes Magazine.
Berlusconi has been dogged by trials in Milan that include one for allegedly paying an underaged woman for sex. He says he has done nothing illegal and a judge earlier this week cleared him of allegations of tax evasion and corruption in one case involving his media empire.
Embarassing wiretap transcripts regularly appear in Italian newspapers with salacious details of Berlusconi’s promiscuity.
The prime minister says he is the victim of political persecution left-wing investigators and used his Friday address in Rome to renew his claim that the country’s magistrate are abusing the power in a “justice coup” in 1994 amid a mega-corruption scandal involving politicians and businessmen.
The Tangentopoli, or “Bribesville” scandal that broke in 1992 prompted Berlusconi to enter politics two years later after his close friend prime minister Bettino Craxi fled to self-imposed exile in Tunisia after coming under investigation for corruption.
–IANS/AKI
rd
- Fugitive in Berlusconi sex scandal arrested - Apr 16, 2012
- Berlusconi makes first public appearance after facial surgery - Mar 10, 2011
- Berlusconi to write memoir on his private life - Aug 24, 2011
- Italian held on suspicion of extorting money from Berlusconi - Sep 01, 2011
- Ancient statue in Italian premier's office repaired - Nov 19, 2010
- Berlusconi lawyers say new 'bunga bunga' claims are false - Apr 14, 2011
- Berlusconi 'entertained women 2 or 3 times a week at Roman castle' - Feb 16, 2011
- Berlusconi calls for sobriety - Nov 24, 2010
- Berlusconi's son worries foes can hurt broadcasting empire - Jul 01, 2011
- Berlusconi won't run for re-election in 2013 - Apr 14, 2011
- Berlusconi faces witness manipulating charges - Apr 20, 2012
- 55 percent Italians want Berlusconi to go - Jul 21, 2010
- Ruby the heart stealer gives birth to girl - Dec 21, 2011
- Berlusconi sex scandal: Showgirls complain of losing jobs - Feb 01, 2011
- Clooney, Ronaldo witnesses in Berlusconi sex trial? - Nov 24, 2011
Tags: bettino craxi, billionaire, corruption scandal, dinner parties, forbes magazine, italian capital, italian newspapers, italian prime minister, magistrate, media empire, palazzo grazioli, political persecution, prime minister silvio, prostitutes, scandalous affairs, silvio berlusconi, soirees, tangentopoli, tax evasion, wiretap