13-10-11, 07:05 PM
|
 |
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,038
|
|
Dominique Strauss-Kahn cleared of attempted rape charges in France
Dominique Strauss-Kahn cleared of attempted rape charges in France - Telegraph
|
Quote:
|
The 62-year-old former International Monetary Fund chief had been accused by French writer Tristane Banon of attacking her in a flat in the French capital in 2003. She claimed he had acted like a "rutting chimpanzee".
Following a three month inquiry, judges said the violence shown by Mr Strauss-Kahn happened such a long time ago that a criminal case could not be launched.
While the statute of limitations for attempted rape is 10 years in France, it is only three years for sexual assault.
Judges confirmed that the 'sex acts' exchanged between the two had taken place, and that Mr Strauss-Kahn had been unnecessarily violent.
A spokesman for the Paris prosecutors' office said: "It is clear that, for lack of sufficient proof, a prosecution may not be initiated over the count of attempted rape, but facts that could be described as sexual assault have meanwhile been recognised".
Related Articles
Ex-husband of DSK wife appealed to Nicolas Sarkozy over arrest
06 Oct 2011
While Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers argued that he had now been "completely cleared", Ms Banon's barrister David Koubbi said she had been "victorious" as Mr Strauss-Kahn was now an "unconvicted sex attacker".
Mr Koubbi said Mr Strauss-Kahn was "protected by the statute of limitations, allowing him to escape criminal prosecution, but not a legitimate suspicion."
Ms Banon now intends to pursue her case against Mr Strauss-Kahn through the civil courts, her lawyer indicated.
She first spoke out after Mr Strauss-Kahn was arrested on charges of attempting to rape a chambermaid at a New York hotel in May.
US prosecutors eventually dropped the charges after finding the cleaner, 32-year-old Nafissatou Diallo, had told a number of lies.
But, soon after he returned to Paris in September, Mr Strauss-Kahn was summoned to a Paris police station where Ms Banon repeated her own attempted rape allegations face-to-face.
Prosecutors then had to decide whether formal charges should be levelled at Mr Strauss-Kahn, who was once considered a favourite to replace Nicolas Sarkozy as French President next year.
Mr Strauss-Kahn vehemently denied Ms Banon's allegations and began suing her for defamation, although he did admit kissing her and making a pass at her.
The politician, who is being supported by his third wife Anne Sinclair, also faces a civil case in New York over the incident at the Manhattan Sofitel.
Reacting to the news from Paris, a lawyer for Ms Diallo said : "We have supported and believe that Ms Banon was sexually assaulted by Mr Strauss-Kahn and are pleased that the prosecutors in Paris, as has been reported, have found evidence supporting a sexual assault.
"Unfortunately, however, in dismissing her case, the prosecutors in Paris must have felt emboldened by the failure of the Manhattan District Attorney to hold Mr Strauss-Kahn accountable for his actions which we look forward to doing in our civil case despite his desperate attempt to now invoke diplomatic immunity."
Ms Banon has just written a book in which she refers to Mr Strauss-Kahn as 'the pig'
Ms Banon refers continually to the alleged crime in her 126-page book, but leaves out the name of Mr Strauss-Kahn.
This is a common tactic adopted by French authors as they try to avoid libel charges relating to what they have written.
Despite this, publicity for the book makes it perfectly clear that the book is autobiographical.
|
After all, what is being rich and powerful for if not this?
__________________
Standard disclaimer: the disgusting statements contained in this post are the views of the poster, and unless specified do not represent the views of the moderators or the site's owners.
|
Linear Mode
