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Rediff.com  » News » REVEALED: Italy PM PAID pretty girls to attend his parties
This article was first published 12 years ago

REVEALED: Italy PM PAID pretty girls to attend his parties

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 15:39 IST

Image: Karima El Mahroug
Photographs: Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters

More trouble seems to be brewing for Silvio Berlusconi, with documents emerging that the embattled Italian prime minister paid nearly 2.5 million pounds in cash to dozens of women invited to his infamous 'bunga bunga' parties.

According to the documents, several budding attractive starlets were among the grateful recipients of the cash handed out to them by the 75-year-old Italian PM who is facing trial in various cases, including one where he is accused of having sex with an under-age prostitute, Karima El Mahroug.

REVEALED: Italy PM PAID pretty girls to attend his parties

Image: A demonstrator holds up a sign with a picture of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Photographs: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters

In fact, these latest court documents form part of 65,000 pages in a corruption case related to a political ally of Berlusconi, and investigators have accessed several bank accounts used by both men, the British media reported.

The bank details reveal that among the women who were handsomely rewarded was Sabina Began, who has been dubbed the Queen Bee, as she is said to have organised several parties Berlusconi hosted.

REVEALED: Italy PM PAID pretty girls to attend his parties

Image: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is represented on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine
Photographs: Reuters

Began was given 50,000 Euros in 2008 from his account -- she arranged a party in Rome at the politician's official residence, which was attended by George Clooney the same year, according to the documents.

Among other women who were paid were TV presenter Virginia Sanjust, who is rumoured to have had an affair with Berlusconi and who was given 150,000 Euros from his account.

REVEALED: Italy PM PAID pretty girls to attend his parties

Image: Barbara Matera
Photographs: Vincent Kessler/Reuters

Former beauty contestant 29-year-old Barbara Matera, who raised eyebrows after she went from TV to European Parliament representing Berlusconi's party without political experience, was given 95,000 Euros, according to the documents.

Actress Evelina Manna, 37, who also claimed to have had a relationship with Berlusconi, was given 700,000 Euros. Others include TV journalist Francesca Impiglia, 23, who was given 50,000 Euros, and former Big Brother contestant Angela Sozio, 31, who was given 38,000 Euros.