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Case against Strauss-Kahn near collapse

01 July 2011 08:53 (UTC +04:00)

According to the New York Times, law enforcement officials say that since her initial allegations, she has repeatedly lied.

The paper quoted the officials as saying that although forensic evidence showed there had been a sexual encounter between the French politician and the maid, she had repeatedly lied and prosecutors did not believe much of what she had told them.

It said that prosecutors had met with Mr Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers on Thursday and the parties were discussing whether to dismiss the charges.

The revelations come as DSK - as he is often known - is due to appear in court to seek changes to his bail conditions.

"Indeed, Mr Strauss-Kahn could be released on his own recognisance, and freed from house arrest, reflecting the likelihood that the serious criminal charges against him will not be sustained," the paper said.

"The district attorney’s office may try to require Mr Strauss-Kahn to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, but his lawyers are likely to contest such a move."

Strauss-Kahn, 62, had been a leading candidate for the French presidency when he was arrested on May 14. He resigned from the IMF on May 19 and pleaded not guilty on June 6, vehemently denying the allegations.

The paper said that prosecutors had discovered that the woman, a 32-year-old Guinean, had had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.

It added that the man was among a number of individuals who had made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman’s bank account over the last two years.

Strauss-Khan is under house arrest in a townhouse in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, where he is equipped with an electronic monitoring device and under the 24-hour watch of armed guards.

He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.