Two days before a New York court begins a civil case involving a hotel maid’s accusation of rape against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund has been placed under preliminary investigation for alleged involvement in a French prostitution ring.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s attorney Richard Malka “strongly and firmly” rejects the charges of “aggravated pimping.”
French investigators contend that, while Mr. Strauss-Kahn was in charge of the IMF, he participated in parties organized by an alleged prostitution ring. While prostitution is legal in France, pimping remains illegal. Investigators therefore must prove that Mr. Strauss-Kahn helped organize the prostitution syndicate.
“He never had the slightest knowledge that the women he met could be prostitutes,” said Mr. Malka.
Last year, New York prosecutors dropped criminal rape charges against Mr. Strauss-Kahn when the credibility of hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo was severely damaged when it was revealed that she had told numerous lies to investigators.
On Monday, Mr. Strauss-Kahn, who at one time was considered a top contender for the French presidency, was ordered to pay $133,500 bail for the latest preliminary charges of aggravated pimping leveled against him.