Silvio Berlusconi’s Bunga Bunga party model was POISONED after testifying against Italian PM, her family claims
A MODEL at the centre of an alleged murder mystery plot after testifying against ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi was poisoned to death, her family claim.
Imane Fadil, 34, died in agony and covered in bruises in hospital in March after the life was "sucked out of her".
The TV host and model had testified against Berlusconi, who was accused of paying underage girls to perform erotic acts at his infamous "Bunga Bunga" sex parties.
She was also due to take the stand at a forthcoming bribery trial, where allegations would be aired that Berlusconi paid off witnesses to secure an acquittal that allowed him back into public life.
But she passed away on March 1 — a month after being admitted to Milan’s Humanitas hospital - after claiming she had been poisoned.
Her heartbroken family are now demanding a second post-mortem to establish how she died after only recently having Imane's body released to them.
Her sister Fatima told the : "We can't let this be forgotten, the truth must come out.
"The authorities are telling us to hold a funeral for Imane but we are determined to have another post-mortem.
"Imane was always searching for the truth. The only way to honour her memory is to do the same thing."
'LIFE WAS SUCKED OUT OF HER'
The model had been out for dinner with her lawyer on January 13 when she fell ill and began suffering from "strong muscle pain, reflux, palpitations and general weakness".
She was taken to hospital on January 29 - with tests revealing high levels of toxic metals in her body, including cadmium — used to make batteries — cobalt, nickel and chrome.
There was also a large amount of antimony, a chemical found in paint.
She died a month later - with her family now releasing pictures of stricken Imane in hospital with blood congealed under her oxygen mask and her eyes sunken.
Brother-in-law Cosimo Pasqualone said: "She was covered in purple bruises and her eyes and fingernails were yellow.
"I honestly couldn't believe I was looking at the same person. It was as if all the life was being sucked out of her."
'WHERE'S MY SISTER?'
A murder probe was launched and an autopsy revealed she died from aplastic anemia, an illness that caused her bone marrow to stop producing red blood cells.
The disease can occur naturally but is also caused by radiation, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides and solvents.
Speaking about her sister's death, Fatima said: "Cosimo came to reception to meet me and looked green.
"I said, 'I want to see Imane' and he couldn't say anything. But he didn't have to. I knew what had happened and collapsed to my knees.
"I just kept saying, 'Where is my sister?' I couldn't believe she was dead. The night before we had spoken on the phone and the last thing she said was, 'See you tomorrow'."
NINE-YEAR SCANDAL
OCT 2010: Berlusconi demands police free Karima el-Mahroug, who was accused of stealing from his villa. The 17-year-old prostitute, known as Ruby the Heart Stealer, is a star of the Bunga Bunga parties.
2013: Berlusconi gets seven years for paying for under-age sex. He does not do any time.
2018: Judges overturn his conviction, concluding it “did not constitute a crime”.
JAN 2019: Model Imane Fadil, pictured, who gave evidence in the 2012 trial, is hospitalised, claiming she has been poisoned.
MARCH 1: Imane dies. High levels of metals found in body.
MAY: Berlusconi to stand in Euro elections.
The investigation has now been shelved due to a lack of evidence - with Berlusconi returning to frontline politics.
He was banned from public office in 2013 and given a seven-year jail term after being found guilty of paying underage prostitute Karima El Mahroug for sex and trying to cover it up.
Imane was one of the many young women lured to sordid get-togethers that took place three times a week in the cellar of the former Italian PM’s luxury villa.
She was a star witness at the trial and was planning a tell-all book in which she claimed Satanic rituals were performed at the parties in Villa Arcore near Milan.
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But in 2014, Berlusconi's conviction was overturned and the ban on holding public office was lifted in May.
He was elected as an MEP for his Forza Italia party earlier this year - and denies ever even knowing Imane.
Fatima said: "Why did she die? Because she chose to speak the truth."
