Former belly dancer hires new attorney

MILAN, Italy, June 6 (UPI) -- The woman at the center of a sex scandal involving Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has again hired a new attorney, officials said.

Karima El Mahroug, a former teenage runaway and belly dancer known as Ruby, hired Verona attorney Egidio Verzini to represent her, ANSA reported Monday.

Berlusconi allegedly paid Mahroug for sex before she turned 18. Berlusconi denies the claim and he also rejected allegations he used his influence to get her out of jail on an unrelated theft charge.

Verzini is the fourth lawyer Mahroug has employed since the allegations surfaced.

Last week, Berlusconi's lawyers presented 16 objections to the legal proceedings involving Mahroug.

The next court date in the case is June 14.