DPA/Rome
Silvio Berlusconi’s legal woes deepened yesterday when a request to suspend a trial in which he is accused of having sex with an underage prostitute was rejected and, in a related case, three friends of the Italian prime minister were indicted on charges of abetting prostitution.Magistrates in Milan rejected a request by Berlusconi’s lawyer Piero Longo that the premier’s trial be suspended until February 15 pending a decision from the constitutional court on whether magistrates have the legal competency to handle the case.Longo had argued that there is no urgent need to proceed with the trial since “there are no suspects being held under detention and (there are) no elderly witnesses” involved.Berlusconi did not attend yesterday’s proceedings.Berlusconi, 75, is accused of paying Moroccan go-go dancer Karima El Mahroug – also known by her stage name “Ruby Stealer of Hearts” – for sex when she was still 17. Paying for sex with a minor is an offence under Italy’s prostitution laws.Prosecutors also allege that the premier abused his government position to cover up the liaison with the woman.At a hearing in July, magistrates rejected a request that, since some of the charges stem from his alleged abuse of power as premier, the case should be dealt with by a specially appointed tribunal.The constitutional court, known as the Consulta, has accepted as valid objections raised by Berlusconi’s lawyers and by parliament – where Berlusconi’s ruling conservative coalition has a majority.Legal experts say months could pass before the Consulta makes a ruling on the competency of the Milan magistrates.Also yesterday in another Milan courtroom three friends of Berlusconi were ordered to stand trial on abetting prostitution charges for allegedly recruiting El Mahroug and other young women to attend parties hosted by Berlusconi.The three, regional politician Nicole Minetti, news anchor Emilio Fede and talent agent Lele Mora, deny any wrongdoing.Judge Maria Grazia Domanico set the first hearing in the trial for November 21.Of the three, only Minetti, 26, a former showgirl who was elected to Lombardy’s regional parliament for Berlusconi’s conservative People of Freedom party, was in court yesterday.The charges against Minetti and her co-accused, stem from the same investigation which led to Berlusconi’s indictment in February for allegedly paying for sex with El Mahroug.In the premier’s case, magistrates agreed to a request by prosecutors to fast track proceedings against Berlusconi.