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Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attacked Italian prosecutors on Monday as he returned to court in Milan to defend himself against charges of fraud involving his business empire, Mediaset. "The prosecutors are working against the country," Berlusconi said in the courtroom, as a handful of supporters outside held up placards reading "Silvio Resist!" and held blue balloons symbolizing his People of Freedom party. He said there should be an overhaul of Italy's justice system to prevent it from becoming "a weapon of political struggle." The prime minister also condemned his trial on charges of sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power, which began last week. The accusations were "laughable, unfounded and crazy," he said. Berlusconi admitted that he had given money to the woman in question – then 17-year-old nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug – but said it was in order "to allow her not to prostitute herself." "The girl told me and everyone else present her painful story, and I was moved," Berlusconi said, adding that he had given her tens of thousands of euros to allow her to buy equipment to set up a beauty salon. Twice-divorced Berlusconi, 74, is accused of paying for sex on several occasions last year with El Mahroug and then abusing his status to get her released from police custody in a later incident to cover up his alleged crime. He also repeated his assertion that he intervened in El Mahroug's arrest because he thought she was former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's niece. After coming out of the hearing and greeting his supporters, Berlusconi said the Mediaset hearing had been "surreal" and again denied the fraud charges. AFP |
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