'He gave me RM28,000' - Berlusconi gave money but teenager insists there was no sex.

ROME : A teenager at the heart of the latest criminal probe of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said the billionaire media mogul gave her E7,000 (RM28,583) when she came to a Valentine's Day soiree at his villa but reiterated she did not have sex with him.

Milan prosecutors were investigating whether Berlusconi paid for sex with an underage girl from Morocco and then abused his power in trying to cover up the encounters.Berlusconi has criticised the probe, calling the allegations "incredible and grosteque".The teenager,a nightclub dancer nicknamed Ruby (pic) said in an interview on Saturday that Berlusconi did not know she was a minor when she was invited to his villa near Milan last year "because I told everyone I was 24",not 17.

When asked why Berlusconi gave her the money at the first of several evening parties, she said she attended at one of his villas outside Milan,Ruby replied, "because I had just arrived in Milan and he knew of my difficult family situation" and wanted to help.

As in other interviews Ruby has given,she reiterated that there was "absolutely no" sex between them.Ruby, now 18,said that guests dined and danced at the parties and that Berlusconi "sang" and told jokes.Prosecutors said they are investigating whether the premier had sex with the then-17-year-old girl and then used the powers of his office to try to cover up the encounter.

Prosecutors issued a summons on Friday for Berlusconi and his lawyers to appear for questioning. - AP

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