Rome (dpa) – The boyfriend of a Morroccan go-go dancer at the center of a sex scandal involving former premier Silvio Berlusconi has been ordered to stand trial on underage pornography charges, Italian media reported Friday. The charges against Luca Risso stem from October 2010, when the dancer, Karima el Mahroug, then 17 years old, allegedly appeared in a pornographic performance in a Genoa nightclub owned by Risso. Genoa magistrate, Massimo Cusatti set the first hearing in the trial for April 11, the ANSA news agency reported. In a separate trial, Berlusconi is accused of paying El Mahroug for sex and of abusing his then position as Italian prime minister to cover up the liaison. “The charge of pornography involving a minor appears absurd,” Risso said as he left the Genoa courthouse where Friday's hearing was held. Earlier, El Mahroug, who is now 19, appeared briefly in court carrying the baby girl she had by Risso in December. Also taking place on Friday was the latest hearing in the trial against the 75-year-old Berlusconi, which is being held in Milan. During previous hearings, witnesses, including several police detectives, testified that El Mahroug – who also calls herself Ruby Stealer of Hearts – boasted about having met Berlusconi. The witnesses also recounted how El Mahroug, while being detained on suspicion of theft, had told police officers she was the niece of Egypt's then president, Hosni Mubarak – a claim that was also made by Berlusconi when he allegedly pressured police to release her into the care of a friend of his. Berlusconi – who has yet to attend any hearings since the trial began last April, often saying that his official duties prevented him from doing so – denies any wrongdoing in the case. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/Hc6vC Tags: Berlusconi, Charges, Italy, Porn, Sex, Trial Section: Europe, Latest News
