Rome: A former model and waitress who testified at Silvio Berlusconi's under-age sex trial may have died after coming into contact with a radioactive substance,  deepening the mystery surrounding a case that has gripped Italy.

Moroccan-born Imane Fadil, 33, died in a hospital in Milan on March 1, a month after being admitted with unexplained stomach pains and claiming she might have been poisoned.

Maroccan model Imane Fadil, left, and an unidentified companion arrive at the Milan court to testify in April 2012. Her death two weeks ago is under investigation.Credit:ANSA/EPA

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

In January, on one of the last occasions she gave evidence in court, Fadil said she had paid a heavy price for coming forward and that "the truth would come out" in a book she was writing.

"I have always told the truth and I've rejected many attempts to corrupt me by Berlusconi and his entourage," she said "This whole saga started when I was 25 and now I'm 34. I have suffered a great deal compared to those who let themselves be paid off."

According to Italy's Corriere della Sera daily, Humanitas hospital in Milan 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.

Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi gestures as he attends a TV show in Rome, in February.Credit:AP

The results came back on March 6, five days after her death, suggesting the presence of "a mixture of radioactive substances which are not normally available for purchase", the paper said, citing unnamed sources.

Francesco Greco, Milan prosecutor, said she had been admitted exhibiting "symptoms of poisoning."

Paolo Sevesi, Fadil's lawyer, said she had spoken to him about "her fear of having been poisoned".

A post mortem is to be carried out this week with results expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

Fadil first hit the headlines in 2012 when she gave detailed testimony about the goings on at Berlusconi's orgiastic parties at his villa near Milan.

She testified that the first time she went to a party, she saw two young women in nun costumes stripping in front of the then prime minister. Later, she said he himself handed her €2000 ($3200) in cash, telling her: "Don't be offended."

Berlusconi has faced a string of charges over the so-called Rubygate scandal linked to his parties and the under-aged prostitute Karima el-Mahroug, also known as "Ruby the heart-stealer". She had reportedly been telling friends recently that she had "many things to reveal".

Now 82, the billionaire businessman is on trial for paying a witness to give false testimony about his parties. Berlusconi is already being investigated or prosecuted for witness tampering in Milan, Siena, Rome and Turin, each time for allegedly paying people to keep quiet about his bunga bunga parties.

He has said he was saddened by Fadil's death. "It's always very sad when someone as young as this dies," he said. "I never met this person and never spoke to her."

Telegraph, London

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