Berlusconi to stand trial for underage sex: judge

ROME: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will go on trial in April over allegations that he paid a 17-year-old girl for sex and abused his power by trying to get her cleared of theft, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Granting a request by Milan magistrates, Judge Cristina Di Censo said the first hearing would take place on April 6, in a move that brings a long-running probe into the premier's private life to a head.

Following the announcement, the prime minister's camp reiterated its claims that Berlusconi was the victim of a witch hunt by his political opponents.

"We didn't expect anything else," his lawyers said.

Berlusconi, whose bedroom antics sparked a nationwide protest by Italian women on the weekend, will be tried by three female judges.

In the trial, the prime minister will have to answer allegations that he paid for sex with a nightclub dancer called "Ruby the Heart Stealer," who was 17 at the time, and improperly used his power to request that she be released from police custody after she was arrested for theft.

The accusations come as part of a probe into the premier's private life which have sent Italian media into a frenzy, splashing rumours of orgies with prostitutes and would-be show girls over the front pages.

"There are neither crimes nor victims, just an immediate trial... a media trial that has been going on for weeks," Daniele Capezzone, spokesman for Berlusconi's ruling Democratic Party, said in a statement.

"It is clear that the left-wing, beaten in the elections and in parliament, is trying to use justice" against the prime minister. "They won't succeed," he added.

Using the services of prostitutes is not a crime in Italy, but paying for sex with a girl under the age of 18 is illegal and carries a prison term.

Berlusconi has denied ever paying for sex, let alone with Ruby -- whose real name is Karima El Mahroug -- and who only turned 18 in November 2010.

It is not the first time the premier has been mired in a sex scandal. In May 2009, Berlusconi was accused of frequenting another 17-year old, Noemi Letizia, who called him "papi", provoking his wife to file for divorce.

A month later, escort Patrizia D'Addario released audio recordings of her torrid nights with the prime minister and photos of his residence.

Finally called to trial, Berlusconi faces three years in prison if found guilty of paying minors for sex, and from six to 12 years for abuse of power.

Berlusconi's lawyer Niccolo Ghedini has said he will appeal and request to send the motion to a vote in the Chamber of Deputies, where Berlusconi's centre-right ruling party has the majority.

The prime minister has previously refused to obey summons for questioning, claiming the magistrates based in Milan were not qualified to handle the case.

But since a top court partially stripped him of political immunity in January, the Italian leader will have justify not appearing in court.

The Rubygate case brings the number of trials currently involving Berlusconi to three.

It will be a tough few months for the prime minister, who also faces old charges including tax fraud and witness corruption in trials that will resume in February and March.