Berlusconi scandal belly dancer Ruby to marry

(see related stories) (ANSA) - Rome, February 2 - The Moroccan belly dancer Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi allegedly paid to have sex with when she was 17 has said she will marry her disco-manager boyfriend in three weeks. ''I'm getting married in city hall in three weeks and then in church in June,'' Karima El Mahroug, better known by her nickname Ruby Rubacuori 'heart-stealer', told daily newspaper La Repubblica. Italy has been in a state of shock since prosecutors said last month that they were investigating allegations Ruby had been among a number of prostitutes to take part in alleged sex parties at one of the premier's homes. Berlusconi and Ruby, who is now 18 and whose real name is Karima El Mahroug, both deny ever having sex. Prosecutors said telephone wiretaps, some of which have been leaked to the press causing embarrassment to the government, suggest this is not true and they are set to ask for the case to be sent to trial early next week. The 74-year-old premier alleges the probe is an attempt by biased leftist magistrates to oust him from power. Ruby has said money she received from Berlusconi was a gift. She has also denied asking him for five million euros to keep the alleged relations secret, after being quoted as saying she had requested this amount in the transcript of a wiretapped call leaked to the media. Berlusconi is also under investigation for allegedly abusing his power by pressuring police in Milan to release Ruby after an unrelated accusation of theft, telling the officers she was the granddaughter of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Ruby said she had told Berlusconi she was Mubarak's granddaughter.
Paying for sex is not a criminal offence in Italy, but using a prostitute under 18 is and it carries a jail term of up to three years. Abuse of power carries a maximum jail term of 12 years.