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Strauss-Kahn sex charges ruling delayed | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A French court has delayed a ruling on whether former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn will stand trial on pimping charges. | |
Prosecutors said the appeals court in French town of Douai said the decision would be made on 19 December. | |
The charges relate to sex parties held in a luxury hotel in the northern city of Lille. | |
Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer wants the case dropped, saying his client did not know some of the women were prostitutes. | |
It is the only outstanding case the former IMF head faces in France. | |
Mr Strauss-Kahn, 63, was widely expected to become the Socialist presidential candidate before he was arrested in May 2011 in New York, accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. | Mr Strauss-Kahn, 63, was widely expected to become the Socialist presidential candidate before he was arrested in May 2011 in New York, accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. |
US prosecutors later dropped criminal charges, though the alleged victim, Nafissatou Diallo, is pursuing a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault. | US prosecutors later dropped criminal charges, though the alleged victim, Nafissatou Diallo, is pursuing a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault. |
'Insufficient grounds' | 'Insufficient grounds' |
The Lille case has become know as the Carlton affair, after the name of the hotel in which the alleged orgies took place. | The Lille case has become know as the Carlton affair, after the name of the hotel in which the alleged orgies took place. |
Consorting with prostitutes is not against the law in France, and Mr Strauss-Kahn has acknowledged that he was at some of the parties with the women. | Consorting with prostitutes is not against the law in France, and Mr Strauss-Kahn has acknowledged that he was at some of the parties with the women. |
But Mr Strauss-Kahn's legal team says he had no idea they were prostitutes, and that there is no evidence to support a formal charge of pimping. | But Mr Strauss-Kahn's legal team says he had no idea they were prostitutes, and that there is no evidence to support a formal charge of pimping. |
"We are requesting that this investigation be annulled on account of the fact that there are insufficient grounds to support it," said defence lawyer Richard Malka. | "We are requesting that this investigation be annulled on account of the fact that there are insufficient grounds to support it," said defence lawyer Richard Malka. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn, who is reportedly taking steps to reinvent himself as a highly paid consultant and conference speaker, says the authorities are trying to "criminalise lust". | Mr Strauss-Kahn, who is reportedly taking steps to reinvent himself as a highly paid consultant and conference speaker, says the authorities are trying to "criminalise lust". |
Other cases against him have already been dropped. | Other cases against him have already been dropped. |
Last month, French prosecutors ended an investigation into allegations of "gang rape" at a hotel in Washington after the woman who made the claim retracted her evidence. | Last month, French prosecutors ended an investigation into allegations of "gang rape" at a hotel in Washington after the woman who made the claim retracted her evidence. |
Magistrates also dropped a sexual assault case brought by French author Tristane Banon on the grounds that the alleged 2003 incident had taken place too long ago. | Magistrates also dropped a sexual assault case brought by French author Tristane Banon on the grounds that the alleged 2003 incident had taken place too long ago. |
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