Berlusconi faces witness manipulating charges

Rome, April 20 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is being investigated by prosecutors over accusations that he induced a witness to lie about alleged sex parties at his homes.

The leader is being investigated in the southern city of Bari, the Ansa news agency reported.

Berlusconi is suspected of inducing Bari businessman Giampaolo Tarantini to lie to magistrates about the role he allegedly played in supplying prostitutes to parties at Berlusconi's homes in Rome, Sardinia and at Arcore outside Milan.

Berlusconi is charged with having sex with an underage prostitute, Moroccan Karima El-Mahroug, and then allegedly abusing his powers by getting police to release her when she was arrested for theft.

Berlusconi rejects all charges and El-Mahroug denies having sex with him.

The former prime minister is also a defendant in two other trials, for tax fraud and for violating official secrets.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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