Made in Manhattan

So Dominic Strauss-Khan (DSK) - former big cheese at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - has finally met his Waterloo by settling a civil suit brought by a New York chambermaid - Nafissatou Diallo - whom he was of sexually assauting back in May 2011.

DSK - who is now 63 - did not attend court in person, but the settlement is reported to be in the region of $6 million. 

Now this is an interesting case because it illustrates the great difficulty of bringing a successful complaint of sexual assault or rape under the criminal law - in any jurisdiction.

Because sexual predators make a point of attacking their victims - when there are no other witnesses present - whatever else they are, they are not stupid.

And the criminal law often places great weight on the need for independent third-party witness evidence - or corroboration as it's normally referred to in the courts.

DSK's of course did not deny that a sexual encounter took place - but his defence was that it was entirely consensual and that the low paid Manthattan chambermaid had no cause for complaint.

But the rules of evidence in civil courts are quite different - the deciding factors are the weight of the evidence and the credibility of any witnesses - primarily the accused and accuser.

So in the cold light of day DSK and his lawyers decided that his ridiculous defence would not stand up to serious scrutiny - and he settled without the case coming to trial.

Given the low success rate in criminal prosecutions for rape and sexual assault - it's suprising to me that more civil suits are not brought by the victims of such crimes.

Because were it not for the threat of a civil suit against DSK in New York - the old goat might actually have escaped Scot-free - worse still he might have become the leader of the French Socialist Party and now be sitting pretty as the President of France - in place of the present incumbent, Francois Hollande . 

The Lynx Effect (29 March 2012)

So justice finally seems to be catching up with Dominique Straus-Khan - or DSK for short.

The famous French 'socialist' politician and former head of the IMF - has been charged by the authorities in France over his alleged involvement in an organised prostitution ring - see post below from 22 February 2012.

Meanwhile the chambermaid - Nafissatou Diallo - whom DSK is alleged to have sexually assaulted in a swanky New York hotel - has begun civil proceedings over the incident.

DSK (62) admits there was an 'incident' by the way - but that it was completely consensual - presumably because the chambermaid was simply overwhelmed (while at work) by the well known charms of this irresistible French lothario.

Now I would have thought that a 'man of the world' like DSK - would find it slightly odd that he walks into a 'party' with naked women all around - just dying to meet him.

But apparently not - apparently this happens all the time to DSK.

I wonder what his secret is - maybe he's been taking those TV adverts too seriously - you know the ones I mean?

The one where the chap covers himself with Lynx body spray - and all the women around just can't help themselves.

Watch the following You Tube clip and decide for yourself - maybe DSK will use this in his defence:

http://youtu.be/29HXaYkhOzk

I can't wait to see.

Charming Old Goat (22 February 2012)

Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK) - the old goat who was until recently head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington - was questioned yesterday by French police as a suspect in a prostitution ring inquiry.

In a far cry from his glory days DSK - at one time favourite to become the socialist candidate in the French presidential elections - was held in custody at a police station in Lille.

Police have already interviewed a number of prostitutes - who have admitted having sex with DSK - but this man of the world and notorious womaniser insists he did not know that the women were prostitutes.

Strauss Khan's lawyer - issued a preposterous challenge to the ranks of the media who were there to witness yet another DSK fall from grace:

"I challenge you to distinguish a naked prostitute from any other naked woman" - lawyer Henri Leclerc told French television.

Charming is what I would say to that - and completely disingenuous of course - as if DSK had stumbled unexpectedly and innocently into a organised prostitution ring.

Because what else did he think was going on - why else would a strange and presumably attractive young woman - start taking of her clothes in front of 62-year-old DSK - unless she was being handsomely paid.

Maybe he likes to delude himself that his amazing wit and repartee - left the ladies spellbound and meant they found him utterly irresistible.

But he should try telling that to his wife - Anne Sinclair - to whom he has been happily married for years - allegedly.

Strauss-Kahn resigned as head of the IMF in May last year - after he was charged with the attempted rape of a hotel maid in New York.

The criminal charges were subsequently dropped by prosecutors - but the woman involved has vowed to bring a civil suit.