Ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi in Hospital since Monday

By Staff, Agencies

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in hospital where he was admitted on Monday due to "health problems", his lawyer, Federico Cecconi, told a court in Milan at a hearing in the so-called Ruby case, where the politician was expected to appear.

In January, the media tycoon was hospitalized in Monaco for a heart condition. The 84-year-old politician underwent major cardiac surgery in 2016. He had also been struggling with prostate cancer, which he defeated.

In September, he was taken to hospital with early phase bilateral pneumonia after contracting the coronavirus. He was discharged several days later.

Berlusconi's latest hospitalization comes as the politician was to appear before a court in the so-called Ruby case.

The former prime minister was accused of having intercourse with underage sex worker Ruby Heartstealer [real name Karima Mahroug] at his mansion in 2010, when he was still head of the government.

Following three separate probes, he was cleared, but he faced new accusations of bribing witnesses.

Berlusconi was Italy's prime minister three times: in 1994-1995, 2001-2006 and 2008-2011.