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Poisoned with a radioactive substance? Italy probes mystery death of Berlusconi sex trial witness, former model Imane Fadil

  • Moroccan-born woman had reportedly told her lawyer that she feared being poisoned
  • Fadil testified at the trial of the former Italian premier and media mogul on charges of having sex with an underage prostitute

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In this photo taken on April 16, 2012, Moroccan model Imane Fadil arrives at Milan’s court during the trial of the ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi for allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute. File photo: AFP

Italy is investigating the mysterious death of a former model and witness at Silvio Berlusconi’s sex trial, with a newspaper suggesting on Saturday she may have been poisoned with a radioactive substance.

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Milan prosecutor Francesco Greco said an investigation had been opened following the death on March 1 of Moroccan-born Imane Fadil at one of the city’s hospitals.

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Photo: Reuters
Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Photo: Reuters

The 33-year-old had been taken to hospital on January 29 with unexplained stomach pains.

Fadil was one of the witnesses who testified at the trial of the former Italian premier and media mogul on charges of having sex with an underage prostitute at one of his notoriously hedonistic bunga-bunga parties.

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According to Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily, the hospital had run a battery of tests to determine the cause of her failing health, but finding nothing, had sent off samples to a specialised laboratory in the northern town of Pavia.

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