Berlusconi hired strippers in nun, Ronaldinho gear: witness - Daily Nation

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Girls in nun costumes and one wearing a mask of footballer Ronaldinho stripped for Silvio Berlusconi, a witness said Monday at the former Italian premier's trial for having sex with an underage prostitute.

Model Imane Fadil said the first time she went to a party she was given 2,000 euros ($2,600) in cash by Berlusconi, who told her: "Don't be offended."

That night she said she saw two young women in nun costumes with "black tunics, white veils and crosses" stripping in front of the then prime minister.

One of the two was Nicole Minetti, now a regional councillor for Berlusconi's People of Freedom party in Milan, Moroccan-born Fadil said.

She claimed Minetti and the other woman stayed the night at the villa near Milan and said women who remained got more money to have sex with Berlusconi.

At another party Fadil said she saw a young Brazilian model "with an AC Milan jersey and a Ronaldinho mask, who stripped down to her thong."

Ronaldinho was at Milan, which is owned by Berlusconi, from 2008 to 2011.

Fadil also said she offered Berlusconi a bit of advice on his diplomatic affairs with Moamer Kadhafi when the Libyan dictator came to visit Italy.

"I told him it was better to go and meet Kadhafi because we Arabs can be touchy," she said.

Berlusconi is charged with having sex with an underage prostitute, Moroccan Karima El-Mahroug, and then allegedly abusing his powers by getting police to release her when she was arrested for theft to hide his crime.

He was not in court on Monday but is due to testify later in the trial.

El-Mahroug, a dancer who was 17 when she allegedly had sex with the prime minister, is better known by her stage name of "Ruby the Heart Stealer".

Berlusconi rejects all charges and El-Mahroug denies having sex with him.

The Corriere della Sera daily has reported that Berlusconi last year paid a total of 127,000 euros ($165,000) to three witnesses -- Minetti and two other girls -- when the trial against him had already started.

Berlusconi's lawyer rejected allegations that the payments were intended to influence testimony, saying they were an example of his "usual generosity."

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