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DSK ‘was unaware of’ prostitutes at parties
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DISGRACED former International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn told a French court yesterday that he was unaware that women who participated in orgies at luxury hotels in Paris and Washington DC were prostitutes.
The 65-year-old and 13 co-defendants are on trial in the northern French city of Lille, accused of aggravated pimping in connection with a sex ring centered on the city’s Hotel Carlton.
In his first testimony since the trial began on February 2, Strauss-Kahn reaffirmed his long-standing defense that he did not know of the “prostitutional character” of the women who took part in his orgies.
Strauss-Kahn’s arrival at the courthouse was disrupted by three topless protesters from the provocative group Femen, who were detained by police.
Strauss-Kahn’s chances of becoming French president were ruined over a separate sex scandal in New York.
The economist, known widely as DSK, faces up to 10 years in prison and a 1.5-million euro (US$1.7 million) fine if convicted.
Strauss-Kahn and the 13 other defendants are accused of operating a prostitution ring out of luxury hotels in Paris, Washington DC, Lille and Brussels.
“I had a very hectic life, with just a few outlets for recreation, and these sessions were part of that,” Strauss-Kahn told the court.
Adding that he believed the women to be “a group of friends” Strauss-Kahn said that if he’d known they were prostitutes “I would have totally stopped participating in these soirees.”
The court has so far heard testimony from some of Strauss-Kahn’s fellow defendants, who include a Belgian brothel owner, local businessmen, a police officer and hotel staff accused of organizing sex parties for Strauss-Kahn’s benefit.
Investigators have compiled hundreds of pages of testimony from prostitutes describing the orgies.
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