Milan prosecutors have opened a new probe into claims that Italy's former premier Silvio Berlusconi bought the silence of four women over his alleged 'bunga bunga' sex parties , according to judicial sources.
Berlusconi's accountant Giuseppe Spinelli made around 10 cash payments of 2,000-3,000 euros to the each of the women until as recently as between September and late November last year, according to prosecutors, Italian daily La Repubblica reported on its website on Thursday.
The women were named as Elisa Toti, Aris Espinosa, Miriam Loddo and Giovanna Rigato.
They are under investigation for suspected false testimony in the trial that in March 2015 saw Berlusconi acquitted of paying underaged Moroccan nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug for sex and abuse of office for covering up their liaison.
Mahroug and 22 other people went on trial on 11 January for corruption and perjury in the case. They include Mahroug's former lawyer Luca Giuliante, journalist Carlo Rossella, and Mariarosaria Rossi,a Senator from Berlusconi's conservative Forza Italia party.
Milan prosecutors last month asked a judge to indict the 80-year-old media mogul, who they accuse of paying key trial witnesses 10 million euros to give false testimony.
Mahroug - whose stagename was Ruby Heartstealer - was at the centre of the "bunga-bunga" scandal surrounding orgiastic parties Berlusconi allegedly hosted while he was still premier.