Ruby “the heart stealer,” the young Moroccan who sparked an investigation into Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for allegedly paying for sex with a minor, announced yesterday she is about to get married.

Eighteen-year old Ruby, real name Karima El Mahroug, told a local edition of the Repubblica daily that she is set to get hitched to fiancé Luca Rizzo, a 41-year old manager of a disco, in a town hall wedding in three weeks time.

Once married, the disco-dancing daughter of immigrants living in Sicily hopes to finish her high-school studies in psychopedagogy in Genova and have a church wedding in June. Milan judges have almost finished interviewing witnesses to back up allegations that the prime minister paid to have sex with the underage Ruby and a second minor, as well as hand-picking prostitutes for wild parties.

But in the interview, Ruby said she was by no means worried about the inquiry because she is only a witness, adding “I can’t wait for the trial to begin.”

When asked whether she thought Mr Berlusconi would be put on trial or found guilty, Ruby replied: “I don’t know, that’s his problem.”

The Prime Minister’s main problem, according to Ruby, is loneliness which he attempts to stave off by buying affec-tion.

She said she could relate to the situation, because she often sends money to her father for the same reason.

“He is alone and fights loneliness, a bit like I do. I pay to get my father’s affection, he pays for young women,” she said.

Mr Berlusconi, a notorious womaniser, has denied ever paying for sex, and both he and Ruby say they have never had sexual relations.