Hollywood superstar George Clooney may testify at the trial of Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi
Hollywood superstar George Clooney may testify at the trial of Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi
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The Ocean's actor is among 78 people who are named and also include his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, as well as several other prominent TV personalities. These include Venezuelan beauty Aida Yespica, Argentinian showgirl Belen Rodriguez and senior government officials including foreign minister Franco Frattini who was in London for Libya talks.
Will he tattle? George Clooney and his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis have
been called as witnesses by Berlusconi's defence to prove that his parties
were nothing but elegant soirees. Pics/Getty Images
A source on Berlusconi's defence team said, "George Clooney is one of several people we have included on our list of witnesses as part of our case. The list includes several personalities as well as cabinet ministers and they will all testify and prove that the prime minister is innocent of the ludicrous allegations made against him."
The case against Berlusconi centres on Moroccan belly dancer Karima El Mahroug (18), who was said to have been paid for sex by Berlusconi when she was just 17 years old.
In interviews she later claimed that among guests as Berlusconi's parties were Clooney and Canalis and the defence aim is to call them and dismiss the suggestions and portray the teenager as "confused" and that his parties were nothing more than "convivial, elegant soirees of food and song."
Guest of PM
Clooney, who has a home on the shores of Lake Como near Milan, has been a guest at a fund raising dinner hosted by Berlusconi but there is no suggestion he was involved in anything untoward. A judge will now decide if Clooney and the others on the list are relevant and should be officially called to testifyu00a0-- up until now the actor would have had no idea although his girlfriend is thought to have given defence lawyers a statement.
If he is confirmed then he will receive official notification from the court and will be expected to attend a future hearing when called. "It seems odd since I've only met Berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into Darfur," said Clooney through his representative.u00a0
Ronaldo factor
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid striker is also one of the 78 people on the defence list. Karima el Mahroug claims she bedded the striker ufffd which he vehemently denies.
Not his first
Clooney appeared in Milan court last year after he testified in a fraud case against three people accused of falsely using his name. During the hearing Clooney spoke in Italian and the public gallery was packed with swooning female court officials who were delighted when he turned and waved to them.
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