Rome (dpa) – Police detectives were Friday expected to provide a court im Milan with more evidence on alleged sex parties hosted by Silvio Berlusconi. Italy's former prime minister is facing charges of having paid an underage prostitute for sex. The trial, which began in April, has so far consisted of a few short hearings, that have seen police detectives expose evidence gathered through wire-tappings and intercepted telephone conversations. Berlusconi was not expected to attend Friday's proceedings. Prosecutors allege the 75-year-old media mogul and politician hosted a number of sex parties at his villa near Milan, some of which were allegedly attended by Moroccan dancer Karima el Mahroug – who is better known as “Ruby, Stealer of Hearts” – when she was still 17, and therefore underage in terms of Italy's prostitution laws. Berlusconi denies any wrongdoing. Proceedings have been repeatedly adjourned following a series of short hearings. Berlusconi, who resigned as premier on November 12, had in the past cited political engagements as preventing him from appearing in court. Friday's hearing began with the two lawyers representing Berlusconi casting off their gowns and walking out of the courtroom to protest a decision by magistrates not to change the date of the next hearing, which is set to clash with another trial involving the former premier. Niccolo Ghedini and Piero Longo named two other lawyers to replace them during Friday's hearing. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/XVC8e Tags: Berlusconi, Italy, Sex Parties Section: Europe, Latest News