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Dominque Strauss-Kahn Placed Under Formal Investigation in French Organized Vice Probe

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was placed under formal investigation today in France on charges of participating in an organized vice ring. According to Reuters,

Judges had the option of putting him under investigation for having potentially benefited from misappropriated company funds if he knowingly attended prostitute sessions paid for by his executive friends using expense accounts.

Instead, the investigation will focus on the pandering angle, and whether Strauss-Kahn was aware that the women at the parties were prostitutes supplied by pimps.

He may or may not have to stand trial:

Under French law, "juges d'instruction," which are a cross between investigating prosecutors and criminal magistrates, notify the accused they are under investigation and can hold the person if they believe it warranted. It is they who later decide whether to send the case to court.

Put another way: "Under French law, preliminary charges mean authorities have reason to believe a crime was committed but allow more time for investigation."

He has been released on bond. [More..]

While the stated charge under investigation is "aggravated pimping as part of an organised gang," this is really a financial investigation into whether DSK knew the women were part of an organized solicitation effort by businessmen and hotels using unlawful corporate funds. A police official is also under investigation.

He was summoned for questioning today by the Magistrates, two days early. His lawyers say they will appeal the charging decision.

DSK has said he attended the parties but did not know the women were prostitutes. Patronizing a prostitute is not illegal in France. I detailed the factual background here. Prostitution is legal in France. Profiting from prostitution (supplying them to others) is not. The police believe he was "complicit" in the acts of businessmen who supplied prostitutes or knew the businessmen were using corporate funds to pay prostitutes. DSK has denied both. The businessmen, David Roquet and Fabrice Paszkowski, back him up. One told the police:

“It is not the done thing at these kinds of sex parties to tell everyone that some of the women were being paid.”

DSK's lawyers also say the charges are politically motivated. According to one of his lawyers:

Strauss-Kahn was being pursued because of his high profile and links to France's Socialist party in the midst of a heated campaign for France's April-May presidential election.

"As a result of behaviour that is purely his own business, Mr. Strauss-Kahn has found himself -- largely because of his fame -- thrown to the wolves, by coincidence less than a month before a major election."

If he were ordered to stand trial and lost, the penalty is a maximum of 20 years in prison.

DSK was interviewed about the allegations at his request in February. He was scheduled to return to court on Wednesday, but the judges moved it up to today.

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  • Display: Sort:
    either this guy is truly the subject of an (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Mon Mar 26, 2012 at 10:08:19 PM EST
    international conspiracy, or he's simply an egomaniac, with a dash of stupid on top.

    If it's an international conspiracy (none / 0) (#2)
    by jbindc on Tue Mar 27, 2012 at 12:22:22 PM EST
    They would have handled the US case much better and had a better complaining eitness.

    I vote for egomaniac.

    Parent