Berlusconi sex trial: 6-year sentence sought

Prosecutors in Italy have called for a six-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban on holding public office for Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister charged with abuse of office and paying for sex with a minor.

The 76-year-old media tycoon and centre-right senator is accused of paying for sex with Karima El Mahroug, better known by her stage name ‘Ruby the Heartstealer’, when she was under 18, during the now notorious “bunga bunga” parties at his villa at Arcore near Milan in 2010.

However, prosecutors considered by far the more serious charge was that he abused the powers of his office during a separate incident by arranging for her to be released from police custody where she was being held on theft charges.