Stripper nuns danced for Berlusconi, trial told

SILVIO BERLUSCONI: Former Premier claims his parties were ‘refined and elegant’ (Reuters)

Strippers in nun costumes performed for the former Italian premier, Silvio Berlusconi, at one of the infamous "Bunga Bunga" parties at his mansion near Milan, a witness told a court yesterday.

Imane Fadil, a model, said the first time she went to one of Mr Berlusconi's parties, he handed her €2,000 and said: "Don't be offended." She claims she then saw two young women in nun costumes with "black tunics, white veils and crosses" stripping in front of the 75-year-old tycoon.

One of the two women was Nicole Minetti, now a regional councillor for Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party in Milan, Ms Fadil claimed. She said both women stayed the night at the villa in Arcore near Milan and were paid more for having sex with Mr Berlusconi.

The billionaire media mogul is on trial in Milan accused of paying for sex with an underage prostitute, Karima "Ruby" El-Mahroug, who was 17 when she attended the parties in 2010. He is also charged with abuse of office for lying to officials to cover up the alleged crime. Ms El-Mahroug denies having sex with Mr Berlusconi, who rejects all charges and insists the gatherings were "refined and elegant soirees".

But the Milan court also heard that in the designated Bunga Bunga room, that women danced and fondled each other in front of the then Prime Minister and, in one session, a young woman danced in a thong wearing a face mask of the Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho.

The Italian press last week reported details of bank transactions that showed how Mr Berlusconi had paid total of €127,000 to three witnesses – Ms Minetti and two other women – after the trial against him began. Mr Berlusconi's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini denied the payments were an attempt to influence their testimony, and claimed they were simply examples of the former prime minister's "usual generosity".