Showgirls who allegedly performed striptease dances for Silvio Berlusconi at his 'bunga bunga' parties did so in exchange for apartments, cash and help with their showbusiness careers, court documents revealed.
Showgirls who allegedly performed striptease dances for Silvio Berlusconi at his "bunga bunga" parties did so in exchange for apartments, cash and help with their showbusiness careers, court documents revealed yesterday (Wednesday).
Telephone conversations between the 75-year-old former Italian prime minister and the more than 30 women alleged to have attended the parties were intercepted and recorded by prosecutors in Milan.
They form the core evidence against Berlusconi at a trial in which he is accused of abuse of office and of paying for sex with a 17-year-old nightclub dancer whom prosecutors believe was working as an under-age prostitute. He denies the charges.
In one typical exchange in September 2010, a month before the scandal broke, Marysthelle Polanco, a model originally from the Dominican Republic, called Mr Berlusconi and asked him to give her a larger apartment.
Like many of the women in the scandal, she was living in an upmarket housing development in Milan and was allegedly having her rent paid by the prime minister. She also asked him to secure her more exposure on a popular TV show, Colorado Cafe, known for its scantily-clad dancers and cabaret routines, and for a part on another show, Bagaglino.
In the intercepted phone call, Berlusconi agreed to help her, then turned the conversation to a party due to be held that night at his mansion outside Milan.
"This evening you'll put on a dance, right?" he asked, according to transcripts of the recording published by La Repubblica newspaper.
Another showgirl, Barbara Faggioli, was recorded expressing hope that she could help out her parents, who were euros 300,000 (pounds 245,000) in debt.
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