Strauss-Kahn faces French sex attack suit

Tristane Banon. Photo: AFP

THE Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal has taken an astonishing new twist, with a French writer announcing she will file a lawsuit against the former head of the International Monetary Fund for attempted rape.

Strauss-Kahn responded by saying he would sue writer Tristane Banon for defamation. Her lawyer, David Koubbi, said the proceedings would centre on the behaviour of Strauss-Kahn when Ms Banon interviewed him in a Paris apartment in February 2002.

Ms Banon, 22 at the time, later spoke about the alleged assault on French TV and described Strauss-Kahn, then a leading member of France's Socialist Party, as acting like a ''rutting chimpanzee''. Strauss-Kahn's name was cut from the broadcast.

The alleged incident went largely unreported in France until the 62-year-old contender for the French presidency was arrested in New York in May and accused of attempting to rape a hotel chambermaid.

After questions were raised about the credibility of the chambermaid's evidence, Strauss-Kahn was released without bail, but his passport was not returned.

The apparent collapse of the case against him led some colleagues to suggest he could make a political comeback.

In an interview with the French magazine L'Express, Ms Banon said: ''I can no longer hear that I am a liar because I haven't made a legal complaint. For eight years I have carried the weight of this incident alone, hearing rumours and lies about me.''

She said she did not want to give evidence in support of the New York chambermaid because ''I don't know anything about her case''.

''If she lied about certain things, that doesn't necessarily mean she lied about the rape. For me it has become unbearable. And today, to see Strauss-Kahn no sooner free than eating in a luxury restaurant with friends makes me ill.

''For once I want to have control over what is happening to me. I want to be heard because perhaps, finally, there's a chance I will be listened to. I want only one thing. That he returns to France with his presumption of innocence so we can go before the court.''

At the time of the alleged incident, Ms Banon was reportedly dissuaded from taking legal action by her mother, Anne Mansouret, a local councillor for the Socialist Party. Ms Mansouret later said she regretted talking her daughter out of making a complaint.

''Tristane Banon will file a complaint for attempted rape in Paris,'' Mr Koubbi said. ''These acts are extremely serious. These events were combined with a violence that was absolutely striking for these kinds of situations.''

After being told of Ms Banon's intention to launch a lawsuit, Strauss-Kahn's Paris lawyers said they would sue for slander. In a statement published in Le Parisien they said Strauss-Kahn had ''heard about Mme Tristane Banon's intention to make a legal complaint against him'' and described her claims as ''imaginary''. Under French law, attempted rape charges can be brought up to 10 years after an alleged attack.

In the television program broadcast in 2007, Ms Banon accused Strauss-Kahn of leaping on her, wrenching open her bra and trying to unbutton her jeans.

The writer, who was a close friend of Strauss-Kahn's daughter Camille, said she was forced to fight him off. ''It finished badly … very violently … I kicked him.''

Explaining why she had not pressed charges, Ms Banon said: ''I didn't want to be known to the end of my days as the girl who had a problem with the politician.''

Meanwhile, his half a million tax free job has been taken over by this ugly betty ...

Lagarde to earn $467,940 IMF salary

REUTERS

Former French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde smiles as she arrives at the International Monetary Fund headquarters for her first day as head of the IMF in Washington July 5, 2011.

Christine Lagarde, the newly appointed managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), would earn a salary of US$467,940 per annum, according to her terms of appointment released by the IMF executive board on Tuesday. The board said this salary would be "net of income taxes".

Lagarde is the eleventh IMF managing director and succeeds Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned after becoming embroiled in a sex scandal.

Lagarde would receive an allowance in the aggregate amount of US$83,760 per annum "similarly net of any income taxes, payable in equal monthly installments".

Her terms of appointment state that, as managing director, Lagarde is expected to observe the highest standards of ethical conduct, consistent with the values of integrity, impartiality and discretion.

"You shall strive to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in your conduct," the document read.

The executive board said Lagarde should not, without its approval, apply for or accept any public or private employment or position; and that she might manage her private investments and those of members of her immediate family provided the investments did not involve the operation of a business or created a conflict of interest.

Lagarde was also warned not to attend political party meetings or assume any leadership roles within any political party, but was not prevented from being a member of a political party or contributing funds to the party or to individual candidates.

The contract also stated that Lagarde would have to participate, on an annual basis, in a confidential and informal performance feedback process between her and the executive directors of the fund. - I-Net Bridge

 

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