THE “RUBYGATE” inquiry, in which Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi stands accused of exploitation of underage prostitution and of abuse of office, this week took on a James Bond dimension.
The first of the two key accusations involves 18-year-old Moroccan Karima “Ruby” El Mahroug, with whom Mr Berlusconi is alleged to have had sexual relations in the spring of last year, when the girl was underage.
According to left-wing daily Il Fatto, early last month two unidentified Italians travelled to the small Moroccan town of Fkih Ben Saleh, birthplace of Ruby, and attempted to bribe a town hall official so that they might alter Ruby’s official birth date.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told reporters from Il Fatto that she had been offered a large sum of money to allow the birth register be altered, adding that she had refused because she “didn’t want to get into trouble”.
Lawyers for Mr Berlusconi issued an immediate statement, saying he was “totally unconnected to any eventual illegal actions”, adding that this whole story “surreptitiously damages the prime minister”.
The reason for the defence lawyers’ statement is obvious enough since if it transpired that Ruby was, in fact, born in November 1990, rather than in November 1992 (as in the birth register) then the underage sex accusation could no longer be sustained.
Further intrigue is prompted by the fact that on March 3rd, the Berlusconi-owned daily Il Giornale carried a quote from the prime minister himself in which he said he had “proof” that Ruby’s birth had been registered two years after her actual birth date.
Mr Berlusconi also said his defence would be presenting this proof at the trial, due to open in Milan on April 6th.