ROME -- Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi is thought to be hiding a number of expensive watches given as gifts to the Italian delegation by Saudi Arabian officials on a state visit in November, a witness was quoted as saying Wednesday.

 The gifts led to a dispute amongst the delegation as to who was to receive the more expensive of the watches, all valued between 3000 and 4000 euros, before they were all confiscated by the prime minister.

 A witness who was with the delegation during the dispute has recounted a detailed version of what happened that night to Il Fatto Quotidiano, preferring to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisals.

 He told Il Fatto that the cause of the dispute was a refusal by some of the delegation, comprised of military men, officials, diplomats, businessmen and journalists, to respect the rules that prevent public officials from accepting and especially from holding gifts over the value of 150 euros, a limit which increases to 300 euros for members of the government.

 The witness recounted that "the commotion broke out after dinner in the halls of the royal palace. Renzi's bodyguard had not yet seen the gifts, some of which had been confiscated by personnel from Palazzo Chigi and some already given out. So the bodyguard went to find the ceremonial staff and they headed towards some rooms on a higher floor."

 "Directly upon seeing them the bodyguard realised the difference in size between the various boxes, making clear the differences in the presents' values. They were precious watches but all of different types -- some of a lesser-known brand, and various types of Rolex. This led to discontent and the bodyguard became agitated, almost violent."

 During the ensuing brawl, the witness says that, "the head of the military shouted for a long time, and asked one of the members of staff to open his present, convinced that he had switched the boxes or persuaded the Saudi authorities to give him a Rolex. He was saying that he wanted a better present because he was a senior state executive."

 "He was horrible, he traumatised me. The group didn't resort to punches, but were not far from it: there were shoves, insults, faces pulled."

 "When it was discovered that the Saudis were listening, the bodyguard took the packages and ran off. The following day those who were unhappy complained to Renzi. As a result he decided to take them all for himself without specifying the motive." He also refused to provide any official document for their restitution, it was alleged.

 The watches still remain unaccounted for, and have not been seen in the State donations room where Palazzo Chigi affirmed them to be. On Wednesday at Palazzo Madama Renzi was seen flaunting a Rolex similar to that described by the witness, leading to insinuation by Il Fatto Quotidiano that he has "confiscated" them all for himself.