Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's legal marathon resumed this morning with a tax fraud hearing two days ahead of the long-awaited "Rubygate" trial.
Today's case centres on accusations Mr Berlusconi's companies deliberately overpaid for TV and film rights, allowing the difference to be skimmed off by offshore companies run by front men and put into illegal slush funds.
Mr Berlusoni, Italy's third-richest man, appeared at the first hearing last week but missed today's court date because he was in Tunisia for talks on the migrant crisis in southern Italy.
He has denied any wrongdoing in all cases against him and says he has been targeted by politically motivated leftwing magistrates.
The media countdown has already begun for Wednesday's first hearing of what promises to be one of the most sensational in Italian post-war history, but his top aide has already said the 74 year-old prime minister won't be there.
In Italy, defendants are not obliged to attend trials.
He will be accused on Wednesday of paying for under age sex with Karima El Mahroug, who goes by the name of 'Ruby'.
He dismisses the lurid media reports based on prosecutors wiretap evidence of "bunga bunga" sex parties at his palatial private residence outside Milan.
Mr Berlusconi is also accused of making calls to get her released from a Milan police station where she was being held over unrelated accusations of theft.
Supporters and opponents have been demonstrating outside the court for days, waving banners and flags before TV crews.
The Ruby case is only one strand in a web of legal problems for the Italian prime minister, who also faces a series of related trials linked to allegations of fraud, embezzlement and corruption over dealing in television rights by parts of his Mediaset broadcasting empire.
Mr Berlusconi's opinion poll ratings have suffered but he is in little danger of being forced from office before a verdict which may take years or which may never come.
He has faced at least a dozen trials over the years and has always been cleared or seen the statute of limitations clock run down on the charges he has faced.
