Ex-IMF chief quizzed over suspected prostitution ring

New Zealand Star (IANS) Wednesday 22nd February, 2012

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was quizzed for the second day Wednesday as part of its investigations into a suspected prostitution ring.

The prostitutes include a woman who claims to have received 500 to 1,000 euros ($661-1,300) for having sex with him 11 times.

The 62-year-old woke up following his first night in a French prison cell Wednesday before police continued to interview him about an illegal prostitution ring, the Daily Mail reported.

Strauss-Kahn is facing charges of "complicity in pimping" and "misuse of corporate assets" - crimes which could see him locked up for 12 years.

The allegations include that he paid a 30-year-old escort between 500-1,000 euros to sleep with him 11 times, as he "had sex with escort girls at libertine parties financed by French businessmen".

Another prostitute was allegedly given a guided tour of the IMF headquarters in Washington after an evening in his company. Hookers are also said to have been flown out to Washington to entertain him.

Strauss-Kahn has admitted attending 'sex parties' in cities all over the world, but denies knowing that the naked women he slept with were prostitutes, because he "couldn't tell".

The unorthodox defence comes amid allegations that his mobile phone records showed he had encounters with at least 10 call girls.

All of the women, who are mainly French and Belgians from immigrant backgrounds, claim to have had paid sex with him while he was IMF chief.