'Ruby the Heart Stealer': profile of Karima El Mahroug

The pole dancer allegedly attended raunchy parties thrown by the 74-year-old prime minister in his private residence in Milan last year, where she claims he showered her with money and gifts, when she was just 17.

As Italian magistrates launched a probe into the premier's private life, Ruby became the pin-up girl for the Italian media's sensational coverage of rumoured orgies hosted by Berlusconi, with prostitutes and showgirls.

Ruby - real name is Karima El Mahroug - moved with her family from Morocco to a small town in Sicily in 2003. She lived with her hawker father, housewife mother and three younger siblings before running away from home at 14.

Apparently spotted by one of Berlusconi's cronies at a beauty contest, Ruby was called to entertain the prime minister by Nicole Minetti, a former dental hygienist and regional representative for Berlusconi's party.

It was the prime minister's trusted aide Minetti who then helped get Ruby out of prison after she was arrested for alleged theft in May 2010, when her housemate accused her of stealing 3,000 euros (4,300 dollars).

Berlusconi rang the police station and told officials to release her, claiming she was the niece of then Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and asking police to hand her over to Minetti, ostensibly to prevent diplomatic fallout.

The indignant leader later protested he had no idea that Ruby was not Mubarak's niece, claiming the story was part of a series of lies that the teenager had told him, including fibbing about her age.

Prosecutors announced an investigation into the matter earlier this year.

The 18-year-old dark-haired, long-lashed girl has become the star of the scandal and has since appeared on several television channels protesting her innocence and telling the harrowing story of her troubled past.

Grilled by investigators, she said she met Berlusconi at one of his "bunga bunga" parties - where she described naked women who surround the aged premier, vying with each other to arouse him - but denied taking part.

After confessing to journalists she wanted to change her ways and planned to get hitched to fiance Luca Rizzo, the 41-year-old manager of a nightclub, Ruby has made showbiz appearances including at the Vienna Opera Ball in March.

While hogging the limelight with her low-cut dresses the young Moroccan has always spoken affectionately of Berlusconi, whom she has described as a charitable but lonely man, forced to buy women's affection.

But the star witness in the upcoming trial has recently considered turning claimant, according to Italian media, a move which would make her a victim in the eyes of the law and could leave Berlusconi floundering.