Berlusconi accused of trying to pay off orgy girls before trial

Pervy old creeper Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, is currently on trial for allegedly paying for sex with an underage prostitute, a Moroccan runaway known as "Ruby the Heart-Stealer." Prosecutors allege Ruby, whose real name is Karima el-Mahroug, was 17 when she attended bacchanal orgies (perhaps better known as the "bunga bunga" parties) at Berlusconi's mansion. Now, Berlusconi is accused of paying three witnesses scheduled to testify during the trial. Prosecutors say Berlusconi paid a total of about $167,500 in cash gifts to the women, but Berlusconi's lawyer claims the payments were made "with his usual generosity" to help his friends out, not to sway testimony.