Moroccan pole dancer Karima El Mahroug, also known as Ruby, denies that Silvio Berlusconi had sex with her while she was still underage.
Neither Berlusconi nor Moroccan pole dancer Karima El Mahroug, known as Ruby, attended the first hearing of one of Italy's most anticipated courtroom events, which the judge postponed until May 31.
Prosecutors in the case, which touches tangentially on Berlusconi's Mediaset TV empire, accuse the TV-tycoon-turned-politician of paying for sex with Mahroug when she was 17.
The alleged sexual encounters supposedly took place at Berlusconi's villa at Arcore, outside Milan, during sex parties attended by dozens of women, some of whom were aspiring TV starlets, according to local reports.
George Clooney is named on a list of defense witnesses since El Mahroug said she once saw him at Berlusconi's villa. Clooney issued a statement calling this claim "odd, since I've only met Berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into Darfur."
Berlusconi is also charged with making phone calls to Milan police in May 2010 to attempt to use his influence as prime minister to have Mahroug released from arrest on suspicion of theft.
Berlusconi and Mahroug deny having sex. Berlusconi has repeatedly called his indictment part of an ongoing smear job by politically hostile magistrates.
Mediaset news anchor Emilio Fede, former Mediaset showgirl-turned-politician Nicole Minetti and talent scout Dario "Lele" Mora are also being investigated for exploiting or aiding prostitution of a minor by allegedly organizing Berlusconi's parties.
Three female judges banned some 100 camera crews, many from international media outlets, from the proceedings, meaning they had to vie for space outside the court. But about 100 print journalists were allowed inside.
Berlusconi has vowed to attend the next hearing.
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