Berlusconi 'hosted prostitution parties', trial hears

Italian ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi hosted prostitution parties at his Milan villa and paid women with favours and cash, prosecutors at his trial have said.

Mr Berlusconi, on trial for paying to have sex with an underage prostitute, Karima El Mahroug, said he never had to pay for "intimate relations."

Both he and Ms Mahroug - better known by her stage name "Ruby Heartstealer" - have denied ever having sex. A verdict in the trial is expected later this month.

Arcore, north-east of Milan, were the "expression of a tried and tested prostitution system organised to satisfy the sexual pleasure of Silvio Berlusconi, and of which the young Moroccan girl was completely a part."

The case is one of several that have dogged the former prime minister. In the most recent, he was convicted of tax fraud in connection with the purchase of broadcasting rights by his Mediaset TV company.

He was sentenced to a year in prison and barred from holding office for five years - though this will not be enforced until his appeal is complete.

On Friday, the prosecution is scheduled to set out the sentence it says Mr Berlusconi should face if found guilty in the sex trial.