Berlusconi accused of paying £1.2m for showgirl's silence over prostitutes...

Italian prosecutors are stepping up their investigations into allegations that Silvio Berlusconi bribed a showgirl to keep quiet about the procurement of prostitutes for his parties, as the former prime minister faces the fresh humiliation of being kicked out of parliament.

Mr Berlusconi allegedly paid 1.5 million euros (£1.26 million) to Sabina Began, a former model who was nicknamed “the Queen Bee” of his female entourage, in return for her silence.

Miss Began is being investigated for allegedly recruiting call-girls to parties held by Mr Berlusconi at Palazzo Grazioli, his grand residence in Rome, in the months after he announced that he was divorcing his second wife, Veronica Lario.

The German-born former actress, who has the initials S.B for Silvio Berlusconi tattooed on her ankle and has in the past declared she was in love with him, reportedly used 600,000 euros of the money to buy an apartment in Rome.

She has denied recruiting prostitutes and says the money was just a gift. Full story...

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