ROME, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Naples prosecutors investigating an alleged extortion of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi plan to question him next week, officials said Thursday.
The interview is to be held Tuesday in Berlusconi's office in Rome, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Berlusconi has denied paying hush money to Gianpaolo Tarantini, an entrepreneur, and his wife, Angela Devenuto, saying he was simply helping out a couple in financial difficulties. Tarantini, 34, who says he supplied women for Berlusconi, and his wife were arrested last week and are now being held in Naples.
Valter Lavitola, who edits an online newspaper, Avanti!, is also being sought in connection with the alleged extortion. He is believed to be out of the country.
Prosecutors say Berlusconi paid close to $1 million to the three suspects. The investigation began after an Italian weekly, Panorama, published a story on the alleged payoff.
Berlusconi says all allegations of wrongdoing are politically motivated.
