Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, has gone on trial in Lille accused of pimping, in a case that threatens to expose the double life of the politician once tipped to be the next president of France. Here’s what we know about some of the other defendants.
René Kojfer
The 73-year-old sharp-suited former head of public relations at the Hotel Carlton in Lille was the first person to be investigated in the case. He is accused of procuring women with the aid of his childhood friend, the self-proclaimed pimp Dominique Alderweireld, to supply sex workers to clients, businessmen and friends at the exclusive hotel in Lille. Surveillance revealed that Kojfer would use the term “dossiers” when discussing finding prostitutes, and that he would often demand specifics such as a “little Asian” or something “from an eastern country, like a Ukrainian”. He would also allegedly “try out” the women first himself, without paying, and recommend them to his contacts. He denies all charges.
Dominique Alderweireld
Alderweireld, also known as Dodo la saumure or “Dodo the pimp”, runs brothels just over the border in Belgium. The 65-year-old is accused of sending sex workers from his establishments in Belgium to Paris and the US for DSK. The portly, cigar-chewing owner of hostess bars said he had prepared for the case by getting his teeth whitened in Spain. He has claimed that the women who work in his brothels are “independent”. He once told Libération: “The girls aren’t there just for the money. I don’t put microphones in the bedrooms, but I know that some of them love it. They have power over the men. And they can watch television between clients.” His partner Beatrice Legrain, who also runs brothels, is also in the dock accused of supplying women to Strauss-Kahn. She is alleged to have accompanied a sex worker to a soiree organised for Strauss-Kahn in Paris. Both deny the charges.
Fabrice Paszkowski
A small businessman who was head of a medical supplies company in Lens, northern France, and active in the local Socialist party branch. The 47-year-old is accused of attempting to curry favour with his mentor Strauss-Kahn by supplying sex workers for group sex, organising “soirees”, paying women and travelling with them to Paris and Washington to meet Strauss-Kahn, and taking part. Text messages between Strauss-Kahn and “Fab” showed Strauss-Kahn referring to women. In one text message, the then head of the IMF asked if Paszkowski wanted to accompany him to a “magnificent” swingers club in Madrid, suggesting he bring “material” – thought to mean women. In 2010, Strauss-Kahn texted Paszkowski before an arranged visit to Washington, asking: “So, who will you have in your luggage?” Paszkowski replied: “I have some very beautiful and new things for my trip to DC!!!” He denies the charges.
David Roquet
The 46-year-old is former head of a local franchise of a building company in northern France. An acquaintance of Paszkowski, who allegedly had a similar interest in swingers parties and wanted to curry favour with Strauss-Kahn, he is accused of paying for sex workers and soirees for Strauss-Kahn and for putting though the costs – hotel rooms, restaurants, train and plane tickets – on his company expenses. He denies the charges.
Jean-Christophe Lagarde
The 50-year-old senior Lille police chief was hoping for a top national post if Strauss-Kahn was elected president. He met Paszkowski through his freemason network. They soon realised they shared an interest in swinging and group sex. Lagarde was a participant in soirees with Strauss-Kahn and numerous women, and is accused of putting Strauss-Kahn in contact with sex workers. He denies knowing that the women at orgies were sex workers. Some of the women told investigators that they were paid in front of him. Lagarde travelled to Washington with women to meet Strauss-Kahn. He denies all charges.
Emmanuel Riglaire
The 46-year-old was once a high-profile lawyer at the Lille bar. One woman witness in the case told investigators that when Riglaire represented her in a divorce and child-custody case, she could not afford to pay him and he suggested she pay with sexual favours. The woman, who was sexually abused as a child and had had a difficult upbringing, said she was then introduced by Riglaire to Kojfer, who put her in contact with clients for prostitution. The lawyer is also accused of introducing her to Roque, who took her to an orgy organised for Strauss-Kahn in Paris where she was paid to take part and, “in tears”, had a brutal sexual encounter with Strauss-Kahn. He denies all charges.
