London:
A glamorous actress, who claims she helped organise Silvio Berlusconi's 'bunga bunga' parties as he was "lonely", has showered accolades on the Italian Prime Minister, saying he is a "spiritual" man who helped her "find faith".
74-year-old Berlusconi, already embroiled in several sex scandals, is currently facing trial in a Milan court, for allegedly paying for sex with a teenage prostitute, a charge he denies.
But, Sabina Began, 36, who calls herself the "Queen Bee", was quoted by British newspaper 'The Daily Telegraph' as telling an Italian radio show: "He (Berlusconi) is a very spiritual man. He has helped me to find faith as well.
"He is a believer and thanks to him, I have become religious as well. He loves God, he speaks to God. He is a man of faith and his home is decorated with crucifixes. He is a beautiful person, a person of faith, a true believer. He is very spiritual and he has put me on a spiritual path."
Though the actor's claims on the radio show were met with incredulity by the programme's host, Began said she was telling the truth and events at Berlusconi's infamous parties at his mansion near Milan had been exaggerated.
Claiming that the Italian Premier is "a very dear friend", Began added: "We speak all the time, every day, I adore him, I love him. He is such a warm and friendly person always willing to help anyone out.
"Nothing sexual happened at these parties I organised, they were just for fiends and there was eating, singing and dancing, nothing else."
"Bunga bunga" refers to crude after-dinner sex games allegedly played at Berlusconi's mansion near Milan.