Moldovan ballet dancer's 'clothes, lingerie found in 'lover' Costa Concordia captain's cabin'

London, Feb 3 (ANI): Clothing and lingerie belonging to a Moldovan ballet dancer, who was spotted with the captain of the capsized Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia on the night of the disaster, have been found in his cabin.

Divers found the clothing, and a beauty case, belonging to 25-year-old Domnica Cemortan when they searched Francesco Schettino's cabin.

According to earlier reports, Cemortan was seen enjoying dinner with Schettino, just 30 minutes before the liner struck rocks and sank off the Italian island of Giglio.

Cemortan recently told prosecutors in Grosseto, Tuscany, that she was "in love" with Schettino, who is married, The Telegraph reports.

"Yes, it's true. I am in love with Captain Schettino," Cemortan told prosecutors, according to Italian newspaper La Stampa.

According to Italian media reports, Cemortan said she had fallen deeply for the skipper, despite him having a wife and a teenage daughter.

"I love him, and it's not right to destroy his reputation. Everyone is hammering him," she said.

According to the paper, Cemortan confirmed to prosecutors that Schettino had invited her up onto the bridge as his guest, to see the ship perform a 'salute' of the island of Giglio.

"I was on the bridge," she reportedly told prosecutors.

Cemortan had earlier defended Schettino and the crew's actions throughout the tragedy claiming they had successfully saved thousands of lives, and called the captain a 'hero'. (ANI)