Silvio Berlusconi's 24 gifts to Ruby the Heart Stealer Karima El-Mahroug disclosed

His reputation for generosity and lavishing gifts upon a deserving few are long established.

His reputation for generosity and lavishing gifts upon a deserving few are long established.
Karima El-Mahroug was allegedly given two Rolex watches, one of which was worth £45,000 Credit: Photo: AP

Details of a cache of 24 presents totalling nearly £200,000 and allegedly given by Silvio Berlusconi to the teenage dancer at the centre of the under age prostitution charge against him emerged from prosecutors details of the case against him.

Among the goodies allegedly received by Karima El-Mahroug, better known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, from the premiere, are two Rolex watches, one of which was worth €50,000 (£45,000), an €18,000 (£15,000) fur stole and the promise of an Audi R8.

She also picked up a €15,000 (£12,000) diamond necklace made by Recarlo, a Valenza-based design jeweller which provided rings that Mr Berlusconi gave to 24 women MPs and 13 Senators at Christmas.

She told investigators: "The person who gave me the necklace is Silvio Berlusconi whom I met twice at Arcore," in a reference to his villa outside Milan where the alleged after dinner "bunga bunga" parties took place last year.

When she was questioned by prosecutors last year Miss El-Mahroug also said the prime minister had given her a special gift on Valentine's Day 2010 to mark "our first meeting" – a red and black Valentino dress encrusted with Swarovski pearls.

The gift list includes Versace designer shoes and an array of diamond bracelets, pendants, rings and earrings – many featuring diamonds and violet-coloured amethyst her "favourite colour" from top brands including Bulgari and Tiffany. One Swarowsky-Tiffany diamond bracelet was even engraved with the initials of her nickname, R.R. for Ruby Rubacuori (Ruby the heartstealer)

The prime minister apparently also promised her an Audi R8 but it was never delivered.

She said he also gave her an expensive "brooch" which was bought on Via Montenapoleone, Milan's premier shopping street. "In fact he told me I should not have a very low neckline, so the brooch helps to cover me up," she told prosecutors.

Miss El-Mahroug claims she was also given a Dolce & Gabbana Swarovski crystal designer watch. She said he gave it to her "because I told him that I didn't like the Rolex watches".

Referring to a Helen Yarmak red fox fur stole the prime minister gave her, Miss El-Mahroug said she was curious to find out how much it was worth.

"I knew after taking myself to the (Helen Yarmak) store in Via Torino that it cost €18,000," she told prosecutors.

Mr Berlusconi, 74, has been ordered to stand trial in Milan on April 6 on a charge of sex with an under age prostitute and abuse of power after he allegedly sought her release from police custody on a theft charge in May 2010. He is also facing the resumption of three other trials on allegations of tax evasion and corruption.

The teenager was introduced to Silvio Berlusconi at the age of 17 by one of the prime minister's closest friends, veteran television host Emilio Fede.

The prime minister asked her to a private dinner at Arcore, last year and prosecutors claim that he met Ruby on 15 occasions while the pair allegedly exchanged 67 telephone calls and text messages.

She denies ever having sexual relations with Mr Berlusconi but said he gave her several gifts and €7,000 in cash because he felt sorry for her. Mr Berlusconi has always said he has never paid for sex.

Mr Berlusconi yesterday pledged to overhaul Italy's judicial system, and signalled plans to reform the Constitutional Court, which only last month struck down the prime minister's blanket immunity from prosecution.

Under Berlusconi's proposed reform, a two-thirds majority on the 15-member court will be required to repeal a law.

"This is to avoid a repeat of the situation we see today when parliament discusses a law and approves it. Then leftist magistrates, if they don't like it, take it before the constitutional court, made up of mainly judges from the left, which then repeals laws that are just and very just," the prime minister said.