Berlusconi’s ‘Bunga Bunga’ Parties Reportedly Featured Showgirl Dressed As Obama

Speaking of scandals…

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi‘s parties featured showgirls stressed as nuns and nurses — and also those dressed as President Obama. That’s according to testimony from Karima el-Mahroug, the Moroccan woman who is a central figure in Berlusconi’s sex scandal.

Mahroug, also known by her stage name “Ruby the Heart Stealer,” described the parties, saying she went to about half a dozen of them — each of which were followed by cash payments (thousands of euros) from Berlusconi. Reuters reported:

The nightclub dancer at the center of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s “bunga bunga” sex trial told a court on Friday that guests at the media tycoon’s parties dressed as nuns, nurses and U.S. President Barack Obama.
[…]
Glamour model Marysthelle Polanco, one of 14 women who became notorious after they were discovered to be housed at a Milan address at Berlusconi’s expense, dressed up as Obama and Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho, El Mahroug said.

At the trial, talent scout Lele Mora, TV anchor Emilio Fede and former showgirl Nicole Minetti are accused of inducing and aiding prostitution. For his part, Berlusconi denies ever paying for sex and accused judges of political motivation. Mahroug, who was 17 years old when she attended the parties, “challenged Berlusconi’s assertion that events at his villa were elegant dinner parties,” but denied having sexual relations with the former prime minister.

(h/t Reuters; AP)

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