AFP - The Judge Cristina Di Censo decided Tuesday an "immediate trial" for the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for use in prostitution of a minor and abuse of office in a sex scandal Rubygate, according to judicial sources quoted by Italian media.
The magistrate set the first hearing of this accelerated procedure under the Italian Penal Code in cases of "clear evidence" to 6 April at 0830 GMT.
"We do not expect anything," responded the lawyer of Berlusconi.
The billionaire is thought to have paid for sexual services of Ruby, a young Moroccan Karim El Mahroug when she was a minor between February and May 2010 and to be reached with the police in Milan to secure the release after his arrest the night of 27 May 28 robbery.
Both Mr Berlusconi has denied that Ruby had sex, the girl who turned 18 in November, admitting only to have participated in dinners "perfectly normal and wise."
In addition, the defense of Mr.Berlusconi says he intervened to free the girl because he believed it was "the niece of President Hosni Mubarak" and wanted to preserve good relations with his country.
The Rubygate is the third sex scandal involving Mr. Berlusconi, after business Noemi (May 2009), a minor whose attendance had reached a divorce from his wife, and D'Addario (June 2009), a prostitute who had told a torrid night with Berlusconi.
But this is the case the most serious because it is punishable by three years in prison for engaging in prostitution and twelve years in prison for abuse of office.
