Ruby payments ‘to help, not bribe’ says Berlusconi appeal

IMG title=”” alt=”” src=”http://www.mineralfossil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wpid-b546c5cb63be7176dc3d65653197f047.jpg” IMG class=hide alt=”Ruby payments ‘to help, not bribe’ says Berlusconi appeal” src=”http://www.mineralfossil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wpid-b546c5cb63be7176dc3d65653197f047.jpg” (see previous) (ANSA) – Milan, January 14 – An appeal request made public Tuesday argues that “there is no proof supporting” the assertion that Silvio Berlusconi paid off an underage prostitute during a trial surrounding the three-time premier, but rather the money was “merely to help a person in need”. In their appeal submitted January 2, Berlusconi’s lawyers admit he paid Karima ‘Ruby’ El Mahroug sums of money, “certainly not to ‘buy the witness’, nor for the alleged promise of payment for pretending to be crazy”. Throughout hearings several defense witnesses admitted to receiving money and accommodations from the billionaire ex-premier that both parties insisted were gifts and not bribes. IMG id=mediaViewer title=”” alt=”” src=”http://www.mineralfossil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wpid-trasp71.gif”ALL RIGHTS RESERVED