Kahn Sex Case Could Collapse’

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THE sexual assault case against ex-IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse, reports said today. Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a top candidate for the French presidency when he was arrested in May accused of assaulting a hotel maid in New York.

But US officials have now reportedly said the maid has repeatedly lied since the alleged attack. The Guinean-born woman also allegedly did not tell the truth in her asylum application. Strauss-Kahn is due in court today where his lawyers are expected to ask for his bail conditions to be relaxed.

The politician has been under house arrest in a Manhattan apartment since posting a £3.7million bail. He is under 24-hour surveillance, has armed guards and an ankle tag. His charges include four counts of felony, two of criminal sexual acts, one of attempted rape and one of sexual abuse.

He is also charged with three misdemeanour offences, including unlawful imprisonment. Sources close to the case said that it was taken to a grand jury without the maid’s story being fully examined.
The source said: “Just about everything that was reported on this woman early on was untrue but no one checked or wanted to believe anything else.”

Strauss-Kahn resigned from the IMF on May 19 and pleaded not guilty on June 6. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. If the case collapses Strauss-Kahn could throw France’s presidential race open again.

The front-runner in opinion polls for the April 2012 presidential race before his arrest, Strauss-Kahn had been widely expected to challenge President Nicolas Sarkozy.

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