Ex-IMF boss Strauss-Kahn takes the stand in French pimping trial

Dominique Strauss-Kahn took the witness stand on Tuesday to testify about his alleged role in sex parties with prostitutes, saying the frequency of the evenings had been wildly exaggerated. The 65-year-old former head of the International Monetary Fund is accused of instigating about a dozen parties he knew involved prostitutes between 2008-2011 in the northern French city of Lille, Washington, Brussels and Paris. Several topless protesters from the FEMEN group with slogans painted in black on their chests and torsos had earlier thrown themselves on Strauss-Kahn’s car as it arrived at court before being pulled away by police.

When you read the criminal complaint you get the impression it was this frenetic activity. But it was four times a year, not more than that. It wasn’t this out-of-control activity.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, addressing the court

Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers acknowledge their client took part in sex parties but say he did not know the women were prostitutes and so reject the charge against him of pimping, or in legal terms “procuring with aggravating circumstances”. Strauss-Kahn was tipped to become French president before being accused of sexual assault by a New York hotel chambermaid in 2011. U.S. criminal charges were dropped with allegations that he participated in a French sex ring emerging later.

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