Former IMF
director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been detained for questioning regarding his
alleged involvement in a prostitution ring spanning several countries.
Former
International Monetary Fund director Dominique Strauss-Kahn was detained for
questioning Tuesday over allegations he took part in orgies in Paris and
Washington which were paid for by firms involved in public contracts. He also
faces charges into his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring that
investigators say supplied escorts to sex parties in several countries.
Strauss-Kahn,
who until last year was pipped as a frontrunner to replace Nicolas Sarkozy as
president of France, was due to face questioning as a witness, but
investigators say he is now a suspect in the matter.
The
62-year-old former socialist minister has in the past admitted to having had an
adventurous sex life, but denies any suggestion he knew the women at the
parties were paid or that the companies had paid the bill.
Shortly after
his arrival at Genarmerie barracks, prosecutors said Strauss-Kahn would not be
free to leave and could see his time spent in custody raised to 96 hours.
Eight
well-known local identities have been charged along with Strauss-Kahn for
pimping and misuse of company funds - including three executives from a luxury
hotel, a leading local lawyer and local deputy police chief, Jean-Christophe
Lagarde.
Paying a
prostitute is not illegal in France, but profiting from or embezzling company
funds to pay for sex can lead to charges.
jw/dfm (AFP, AP)
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