Giampaolo Tarantini, Italian Linked To Berlusconi Sex 'Scandal,' Arrested

By Michael Day in Milan | The Independent

The businessman who is said to have supplied call girls for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's notorious parties in Rome and Sardinia has been arrested on drugs charges.

Giampaolo Tarantini, 35, was seized at Bari airport, in south east Italy, and held on suspicion of drug possession and trafficking.

"Gianpolo Tarantini has been arrested for drug-trafficking but also because of a risk he might flee, and because he could have tampered with evidence," Antonio Laudati, prosecutor in Bari told journalists.

As a key figure in the sex scandals engulfing Berlusconi, Taranti has rarely been out of the headlines in the past few months.

Tarantini and his brother had been under investigation for suspected corruption in obtaining contracts. Tapping of their telephones aroused suspicion of drug dealing and also inciting prostitution.

Bugging of Tarantini's telephone also revealed him offering money to escort girls to spend the night at Berlusconi's residences in Rome and Sardinia.

Call-girl Patrizia D'Addario claims to have spent nights with Berlusconi on two occasions on the promise of earning £1,800 for each visit and then recorded their conversations.

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On September 9 the Corriere della Sera newspaper claimed to have seen prosecution evidence that Tarantini brought around 30 prostitutes to 18 parties in Berlusconi's homes in Rome and Sardinia between September 2008 and January 2009.

Berlusconi has denied ever paying for sex, however, saying that "someone gave a very precise and extremely well paid mission to this Ms D'Addario".

Tarantini has denied supplying drugs to the Prime Minister's parties. Investigators have also indicated there is no intention to press criminal charges against the Prime Minister.

But the Bari "entrepreneur" is also being investigated on suspicion of supplying prostitutes to centre-Left politicians in Bari and the Puglia region in connection with corrupt contracts to supply health equipment to the region's hospitals.

Read more from the Independent.

Comments

[rougnz]

What I would like to know is whether or not the Mafia have fully corrupted the Italian Government and if so who is Berlusconi actually working for himself or someone else ? If the Italian government has in fact been infiltrated by the Mafia then should this not be a major concern to world leaders in that that organized crime may have in reach to international institutions that advocate internationally the principle of rule of law ?

[topguide]

I find it hilarious that Italians demean eastern Europe when Italy itself is the armpit of Europe.

[LMPE]

Just when I think that Silvio Berlusconi can't get any worse!

[RagingLatka]

Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead.

[Academic]

Is that literally or metaphorically?

Professor Dr. Stanley Collymore.

[NeoconGal]

If you lay down with dogs you get fleas.

[Blackorpheus]

I detest Berlusconi's Mussolini-redux politics, but I like his energy, his effrontery, yes, his still-vibrant libido. Probably he is slightly mad, but that can only be good in these dark times. Berlu is always entertaining--at least to me--a comical intermission in the otherwise grey, homogeneous, corporate global theater.

[davidwayneosedach]

This Tarantini taints Berlusconi by association. I can't see how the Italians can stomach him.