Ruby denies telling a roommate that she had sex with then-premier Berlusconi

MILAN – The woman at the center of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal has denied in court ever telling a former roommate that she had sex with the then-premier.

Karima el Mahroug appeared for a second day of testimony Friday at the trial of three former Berlusconi aides charged with procuring prostitutes for the media mogul's infamous "bunga bunga" parties. The trial is separate from the one charging Berlusconi with having paid for sex with a minor — el Mahroug — and then trying to cover it up.

Under questioning by prosecutors, el Mahroug denied elements of the case gathered both from witness testimony and her own sworn statements to investigators about the parties and gifts she received.

She said her previous statements were "just lies" meant to elevate her importance.