Milan: The Moroccan teenager at the centre of a sex scandal involving Italy's billionaire Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says she's "can't wait" to tell her version of events when she testifies in a Milan courtroom at the end of this month.
"I can't wait to appear in court, seeing that journalists won't listen to me," said exotic dancer Karima El Mahroug, better known by her stage name Ruby the Heart Stealer.
El Mahroug, 18, made her comments after being spotted by reporters in Milan.
Berlusconi is standing trial in Milan for allegedly paying El Mahroug to have sex last year when she was a minor. While paying for sex in the country is not illegal, it becomes a crime when the prostitute is below 18 years of age. El Mahroug was 17 when the alleged crime took place.
El Mahroug says she never had sex with the 74-year-old politician. Berlusconi - also accused of abuse of office for using his position as prime minister to try to cover up the suspected crime - denies any wrongdoing.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, May 21, 2011, 13:59