Berlusconi Spent $380,000 On Gifts for Showgirls, Prosecutors Say

Evidence submitted for the Italian premier’s upcoming underage prostitution trial shows he showered women with cars and expensive gifts.

Such a generous guy, no? Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to stand trial on April 6 on charges of sleeping with a 17-year-old prostitute and using his political influence to secure her release from police custody. As part of their case, prosecutors have submitted evidence gleaned from wiretaps and bank accounts that show the 74-year-old premier routinely spent lavishly on the women around him, buying them jewelry and cars, including a $95,000 Land Rover. In all, thirteen women, some of them alleged prostitutes, received vehicles from the premier. In his nine years in office Berlusconi has escaped several allegations of corruption, but his coming trial is the first time he has been brought before the courts for his personal conduct.