Former IMF chief DSK spends night in custody

22/02/12 07:19 CET

world news

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Former IMF chief and French finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn is still being questioned by police in the northern French city of Lille and could be kept in custody until Thursday.

DSK, as he is known in France, is being interrogated about his dealings with an alleged prostitution ring based in the city, who organised sex parties in Paris, Brussels and Washington.

French newspapers refer to the investigation as the “Carlton Affair” after a hotel in Lille where some of the meetings took place.

Two men with links to Strauss-Kahn are being investigated on charges of running a prostitution ring and misuse of corporate funds.

Once seen as a possible future president of France Strauss-Kahn’s downfall came when he resigned from the IMF to face attempted rape charges in New York.

The criminal charges were subsequently dropped.

More about: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, France, Inquiry, Prostitution, Sex scandal

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Qatar mall fire kills 19 people

A fire at an upmarket shopping centre in Doha, Qatar, on Monday killed at least 19 people, including 13 children. Four teachers and two firefighters were also amongst the dead, according to the Gulf state’s interior ministry. The fire broke out at the Villagio Mall in…