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Updated at 19.45pm
DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN has denied knowing the women he had orgies with were prostitutes.
In court today, he said paying for sex would be too great a risk for a man who was busy “saving the world”.
The former International Monetary Fund chief took the stand for the first time on charges of “aggravated pimping” in an alleged vice ring, in a day of high drama in a French court that saw a former prostitute detail scenes of group sex as “carnage”.
The silver-haired economist once tipped for the French presidency denied having a “frenetic” programme of sex parties at a time when the IMF he headed up was “saving the world from an unprecedented” financial crisis, adding they only took place four times a year between 2008 and 2011.
‘Sex soirees’
Dressed in a dark suit, he told the court in the northern French city of Lille that he would never have attended the sex soirees in Paris, Brussels and Washington if he knew the women were paid to be there.
I am horrified at the practice of using prostitutes.
Strauss-Kahn admits being a libertine and said that while he accepted the risk of unusual sexual practices for a man of his stature, he would not have taken the risk of paying prostitutes who would be susceptible to “pressures”.
The 65-year-old finds himself back in the dock four years after his high-flying career and presidential prospects were torpedoed when he was accused of sexual assault by a New York hotel maid, a case later settled in a civil suit.
Pay for sex
The crux of the case against him is whether he was aware the women were paid by members of his entourage and whether he played a role in organising the parties, which he also denied.
“It has happened 10 times that a woman offers herself to me. It is nothing unusual to me,” Strauss-Kahn said.
Asked to define a libertine party, Strauss-Kahn said it was when men and women “came together for the pleasure of sex” and what he liked was the “party atmosphere” of such soirees.
However one former prostitute, Jade — who attended several parties with DSK — described scenes of “carnage” at such a party at a chic Parisian hotel.
There was (DSK) surrounded by women” on a bed. “That isn’t libertinism, there were no other men. No one asked my name, there was just a hand on my head to perform fellatio.
However Strauss-Kahn’s female lawyer Frederique Baulieu read evidence from a girlfriend who accompanied him to the party and described it as “free and friendly” — prompting court judge Lemaire to say “this shows people have different views of libertinism”.
Mounia, another former prostitute, also detailed how Strauss-Kahn performed a sexual act on her which was “against nature” during the party, despite her tears.
I think he realised (I didn’t want to do it),” she said, adding that she had not refused it because she needed the money.
Strauss-Kahn strongly denied this, saying her tears would have “chilled” him.
What is sure is we didn’t experience the same thing (at that party). To me it was friendly, playful.
Both Jade and Mounia said they had not mentioned to DSK that they were prostitutes.
And Strauss-Kahn’s close friend, businessman Fabrice Paszkowski who is accused of financing and organising the parties, said he never told the former IMF chief he had paid the women to attend.
Prostitution is legal in France but procuring — the legal term for pimping which includes encouraging, benefiting from or organising prostitution — is a crime.
Topless protesters
Earlier in the day, three topless women from the protest group Femen jumped on the car of Strauss-Kahn.
With slogans scrawled on their half-naked bodies and hurling insults at the car, the three protesters were quickly rounded up by police as the car entered an underground parking area.
Alongside the protesters, the presence of the silver-haired economist — the most high-profile of the 14 accused in the three-week trial — also drew crowds of journalists and curious onlookers to the court.
Strauss-Kahn will have three days to fend off accusations that he organised for prostitutes to attend sex parties in the case which could land him in prison for up to 10 years.
[Advisory: As you've probably already figured out, the following clip may not be suitable for children...]
An ex-prostitute, Mounia, said yesterday she was specifically chosen for DSK by one of the businessmen who threw parties for him.
“The sexual relation that you were to have was with Dominique Strauss-Kahn?” asked Bernard Lemaire, the chief of the four judges overseeing the three-week jury-less trial.
“Yes,” said Mounia, adding that the businessman, David Roquet, “told me he came to see if I would please this man”.
Mounia and another prostitute, known as “Jade”, are expected to testify that Strauss-Kahn would have been “naive” to have not realised they were professionals.
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Why would you pay to settle the civil suit if you’re innocent of the claims against you?
To end a long, destructive legal battle that was front page news.
I guess it’s a matter of principle.
People (and insurance companies) pay to settle when they haven’t done anything wrong all the time. Sometimes for a nominal amount – the “nuisance value”. Sometimes for more, if there are good reasons to keep it out of the public eye. And there’s always a risk of a deranged judge ruling against you. Or you might settle because you’re in the wrong, even if you’re not quite as far in the wrong as the other person alleges.
DSK’s case is very odd, though. The story was already common knowledge. He denies doing anything wrong whatsoever, and he says he wants to clear his name. He’s very rich and could well afford to say, “This is a battle worth fighting.” He could keep going until he’s vindicated in court, or the plaintiff simply drops the case.
But DSK does not do this. Instead, he hands over the dosh and gives interviews to glossy magazines. You can’t really blame people for drawing their own conclusions.
Good old DSK.
Head of The International Monetary Fund and at the time Future President Of France.
Tries to force himself on a chamber maid and then pays her off?
Orgies and Prostitutes?
This shows the caliber of people that they allow run the IMF and a country these days.
My apologies for telling the truth.
Sure why bother with a criminal justice system when we have you to tell us all the truth?
Harry, the truth will always out!
More like criminal’s justice system these days Chuck.
Don’t be so naive…I’m sure he never even touched that maid…it’s all dirty politics. Think about it..the head of IMF, he has a plans to run for president and because he had nothing better to do he assaults some maid..c’mon get a grip.. It was a set up of the highest order.
How do you explain his semen ending up on her dress ???
There is absolutely no doubt there was sexual encounter between them the only question is was it consensual ?
What about the French journalist allegations of attempted rape ?
Or his involvement in a prostitutuon ring on France and America ?
Dsk is almost the French berlusconi !
I think you will find he did admit to ‘contact’. The dispute was whether it was consensual. Either way he could hardly be described as a classy guy and thats before we look at his previous indiscretions.
You shouldn’t be able to name someone in a court case until they are proven guilty. The same protection should be given to the defendants identity that is given to the plaintiffs . Career at imf and potential french presidency ruined. Policy of name and shame should be also brought in.
If you kept it in your trousers you wouldn’t have had a problem. You were too mean to pay for it, so you victimised a poor hotel maid instead. You tried to run! You tried to escape abusing diplomatic immunity which was withdrawn from you. You were treated exactly like anyone else who is arrested on the US. You wanted special treatment. After all you were
you! You deserved special treatment. If you sorted your huge ego and delusions of entitlement life would be easier for you. Divorce settlement sorted with the former Mrs. SK?
The burden of proof is a lot lower in a civil case, so there’s a good chance he’d have lost it even if he was innocent.
Did i miss the trial for bin laden?
Or to get off the hook.
“The problem is that it’s a moment where in all European, American society you are supposed to be innocent, you are supposed to be innocent until you are convicted,” ”
Maybe he should have a word with Obama re Guantanomo – or does he know of its existence
I think he was guilty, but the room maid was too poore to prove it. It is not a secret, that money rules,
@Inga. The woman’s story was unable to stand basic scrutiny. I have no doubt DSK is a womaniser, possibly a deviant, but rich or poor, her story was partially fabricated.
Ha ha of course he is guilty why the hell would he pay her off with nearly a million pound sterling
The guy got off way to easy. Money talks….
Hmmmm. Looking very innocent alright!!
have your say