Karima El Mahroug, the woman at the
centre of the scandal over so-called 'bunga-bunga' parties at
ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's home, presented her autobiography
in Milan on Thursday, the day after she, the media billionaire
and 27 other people were acquitted in the third major trial
linked to the case.
The defendants were cleared of corruption in judicial acts over
allegations that the Forza Italia leader bribed witnesses to lie
about the nature of the parties.
The original case regarded allegations Berlusconi paid El
Mahroug for sex when she was still a minor - a charge he was
acquitted of because he could not have known she was just 17 at
the time.
"In hindsight, I regret having entered Berlusconi's home," El
Mahroug, who has Moroccan roots and was known as Ruby the
Heart-stealer, told RTL radio before the book presentation.
"Everything was manipulated. I am grateful that I made that
acquaintance, but in the years that followed I regretted ending
up in that house.
"If I look back, I am proud of myself, of my path.
"You have to forgive yourself, grow as a person and look ahead.
"The last 13 years have been difficult but I don't disown that
acquaintance.
"I have had a gruelling experience with Italian justice, a
difficult ordeal for a 17-year-old".
Berlusconi and the 28 young women were acquitted after a judge
ruled there could not have been witness tampering since the
women were never formally witnesses, having not been deposed at
the time of the parties.
Prosecutors said they would appeal.
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