Italy: Bunga bunga party recruiters found guilty in Milan court

Just when you thought Italian politics could not get less savory, three friends of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi were found guilty of procuring prostitutes for his infamous bunga bunga parties.

Lele Mora, an entertainment agent, television host Emilio Fede, and showgirl-turned-politician Nicole Minetti were sentenced to jail between five and seven years by a Milan court.

One of the girls recruited by the trio was Moroccan-born Karima El-Mahroug, an exotic dancer that was underage when she was invited to the alleged orgies.

Berlusconi was sentenced to seven years in prison for having sex with an underage prostitute. He was also found guilty of using his powers to cover up the crime.

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Appeals have meant that Berlusconi remains out of prison.

The former Italian leader is also under fire in another court case over tax fraud involving his company Mediaset.

A hearing will be held in the case at the end of July and could see Berlusconi banned from holding public office.

Berlusconi currently does not hold a government post but his party is holding together the governing alliance in Italy, meaning that the former leader is still influential.

Berlusconi's various legal woes may, thus, still have a serious impact on the stability of the Italian government.

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