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Dominique Strauss-Kahn: Tristane Banon claims probed | Dominique Strauss-Kahn: Tristane Banon claims probed |
(40 minutes later) | |
French prosecutors have started a preliminary inquiry into a writer's claim that former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her in 2003. | French prosecutors have started a preliminary inquiry into a writer's claim that former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her in 2003. |
Detectives have been assigned to investigate the complaint lodged by Tristane Banon. | Detectives have been assigned to investigate the complaint lodged by Tristane Banon. |
She says Mr Strauss-Kahn assaulted her in a Paris flat as she attempted to conduct an interview with him. | She says Mr Strauss-Kahn assaulted her in a Paris flat as she attempted to conduct an interview with him. |
Separately, he denies charges of sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid on 14 May. | Separately, he denies charges of sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid on 14 May. |
Mr Strauss-Kahn was recently freed from house arrest in the US city after the credibility of his accuser's evidence came into question. | Mr Strauss-Kahn was recently freed from house arrest in the US city after the credibility of his accuser's evidence came into question. |
It was shortly after Mr Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York that Ms Banon came forward to say that he had tried to assault her eight years ago. | It was shortly after Mr Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York that Ms Banon came forward to say that he had tried to assault her eight years ago. |
He responded by saying he would sue Ms Banon for making false statements. | He responded by saying he would sue Ms Banon for making false statements. |
Under French law, the charge of attempted rape carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail. However, the prosecutors' inquiry may not lead to formal charges. | Under French law, the charge of attempted rape carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail. However, the prosecutors' inquiry may not lead to formal charges. |
'Wrestled' | 'Wrestled' |
Ms Banon - the god-daughter of Mr Strauss-Kahn's second wife, Brigitte Guillemette - has claimed that during the interview in 2003, Mr Strauss-Kahn said he would only speak to her if she held his hand. | Ms Banon - the god-daughter of Mr Strauss-Kahn's second wife, Brigitte Guillemette - has claimed that during the interview in 2003, Mr Strauss-Kahn said he would only speak to her if she held his hand. |
According to her version of events, she eventually had to fight him off as they wrestled on the floor and he undid her bra and pulled open her jeans. | According to her version of events, she eventually had to fight him off as they wrestled on the floor and he undid her bra and pulled open her jeans. |
"When I realised that he really wanted to rape me, I started kicking him with my boots. I was terrified," she said in an interview published in French weekly L'Express. | |
She said she had not pursued the case eight years ago because at the time, "everyone told me it would never succeed". | She said she had not pursued the case eight years ago because at the time, "everyone told me it would never succeed". |
But she said that following the allegations in New York there was "perhaps a chance to finally be listened to". | But she said that following the allegations in New York there was "perhaps a chance to finally be listened to". |
"If I want one day to put an end to this hell that has lasted eight years, it needs to be tried in court," she added. | "If I want one day to put an end to this hell that has lasted eight years, it needs to be tried in court," she added. |
"I'm well aware that in these kinds of cases, where it's one person's word against another - without even mentioning people who are that powerful - suspects are often released." | "I'm well aware that in these kinds of cases, where it's one person's word against another - without even mentioning people who are that powerful - suspects are often released." |
Mr Strauss-Kahn had been a leading contender to be the French Socialist Party's presidential candidate before his arrest in May. | Mr Strauss-Kahn had been a leading contender to be the French Socialist Party's presidential candidate before his arrest in May. |
Ms Banon's mother, Anne Mansouret, herself a politician from Mr Strauss-Kahn's centre-left Socialist Party, said she had persuaded her daughter not to file a complaint at the time of the alleged incident. | Ms Banon's mother, Anne Mansouret, herself a politician from Mr Strauss-Kahn's centre-left Socialist Party, said she had persuaded her daughter not to file a complaint at the time of the alleged incident. |
But Ms Mansouret has said she is "revolted" by the gleeful reaction of many men in France to news the case in New York might fail. | But Ms Mansouret has said she is "revolted" by the gleeful reaction of many men in France to news the case in New York might fail. |