Italian news reports say a businessman involved in Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal has been placed under house arrest as part of a drug probe.
The ANSA news agency said Monday that Gianpaolo Tarantini was granted house arrest in Rome after a judge said there was no risk he could flee Italy.
Tarantini was arrested last week and jailed in Bari, southern Italy, as part of an investigation into drug trafficking.
Tarantini has told investigators he paid women, including a prostitute, to attend Berlusconi's dinner parties. He has said he brought them to the parties to show off and the premier never knew the women had been paid.
Prosecutors have said Berlusconi doesn't figure into their investigations into Tarantini's dealings.
