Disgraced former Premier Silvio Berlusconi has been accused by the Italian court hearing his underage prostitution charges of paying off witnesses who wanted to testify about his so-called “bunga bunga” parties.
The Associated Press reported that the court has also accused Mr. Berlusconi’s attorneys of helping with the witness tampering.
Telephone wiretaps introduced into court — along with witness testimony — accuse Mr. Berlusconi of bringing a dozen or so women to his Milan mansion in early 2011 to meet with attorneys. The meeting took place after these women’s homes were subjected to a police search, as part of the investigation into the parties, AP said.
Shortly after these meetings took place, these women were sent monthly stipends, bank records show. They then provided testimony in court that was so similar, the judges found it odd. All the women denied Mr. Berlusconi’s parties were sexual in nature, AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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