REUTERS/Tony Gentile
If reports are true, Silvio Berlusconi’s appetite for beautiful women holds no boundaries–and yes, that includes age. First sexual allegations emerged over an underage Moroccan belly dancer, and now similar documents involve a 17-year old Brazilian prostitute. (via BBC)
In the latest twist of his scandal, new documents submitted to a parliamentary committee late Wednesday show a Brazilian prostitute and showgirl, Iris Berardi, had attended sex parties hosted by the 74-year old before her 18th birthday. Backed up by cell phone records, Ms Berardi allegedly partied at both of the prime minister’s villas in Sardinia and Milan in November and December 2009. But Berlusconi denied the allegations, arguing they were politically motivated and “scandalous.” Berlusconi’s team of defense lawyers further presented a squeaky clean image of the prime minister, saying his parties involved nothing racier than watching football, drinking Coca-Cola and modest quantities of alcohol. In addition, they claimed there was no sex, no under-age girls and certainly no prostitutes.
(More on TIME.com: Did Italy’s Berlusconi Pay for Sex?)
Although using the services of prostitutes is not illegal in Italy, it turns out that paying a prostitute under 18 years of age is an offense punishable by three years in prison. The most recent batch of his sexual allegations come days after a presenter called him “an ignorant lout” when Berlusconi phoned into a live television show where guests discussed his alleged scandal. And as far as his political career goes, he’s got until the next national Italian election in 2013 to make it up to the Italian people–and women.
(More on TIME.com: See pictures of Silvio Berlusconi and the politics of sex in Italy)