Berlusconi scandal turns from yachts and glamour to mean streets of Bari

From the billionaire’s playground on the Sardinian coast, the scandal threatening the leadership of Silvio Berlusconi has dripped south to the mean streets of Bari. Revelations have moved attention beyond the yacht decks and private villas of the Costa Smeralda, to the southern Italian town, where prosecutors are investigating a distinctly less glamorous world of cocaine, corruption and call girls. It is here, in this rough and ready province on the Adriatic coast that an inquiry has begun into alleged payments to escort girls to attend parties at the Prime Minister’s homes in Rome and Sardinia. Prosecutors have widened the inquiry to include possible drugs offences. The investigation is the latest blow for Mr Berlusconi, who has faced weeks of scrutiny since attending the 18th birthday party of an aspiring model, Noemi Letizia, in Naples. His wife said she wanted a divorce, claiming that he “frequents minors”.

Among those under investigation is Alessandro Mannavini, the former driver of Giampaolo Tarantini, 35, a Bari businessman who allegedly recruited women for Mr Berlusconi’s parties. According to Italian reports, Mr Mannavini is being investigated for “possession and use of cocaine”, while Mr Tarantini faces allegations of “abetting prostitution”. There is no suggestion that Mr Berlusconi knew of drugs use and he is not under investigation by the Bari prosecutors. The inquiry began after police reportedly intercepted phone calls by Mr Tarantini during a wider investigation into corruption charges against Tecno Hospital, the company he owns with his brother, Claudio, which supplies medical equipment to Bari hospitals. He claimed to know Mr Berlusconi in several wiretapped conversations, according to Italian reports. However, the case took another twist this week, following explosive claims by a former model and escort girl, Patrizia D’Addario. Not only does she say that she was paid to attend a party — and later spend the night — at Mr Berlusconi’s residence in Rome, she also says that the encounters were arranged by a “friend” named Giampaolo.

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6539410.ece