Prosecutors may call for Strauss-Kahn pimping charges to be dropped

French prosecutors are to make their final arguments in Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s trial on charges of pimping, after two women dropped a civil suit against the former IMF chief.

Giving their recommendations on Tuesday, prosecutors may call for Strauss-Kahn to be found not guilty and set free. They were not convinced before the trial that a strong case existed against him; they asked for charges to be dropped, but were overruled by investigative judges who sent the case to trial.

The 65-year-old’s taste for group sex has been laid bare over two weeks of court hearings in the northern city of Lille, where he is accused along with 13 others of encouraging prostitution. The charge of pimping is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Strauss-Kahn, once considered a likely presidential candidate in France, has steadfastly denied knowing that any of the women involved in sex parties were paid.

On Monday two women dropped a civil suit against Strauss-Kahn, with lawyers saying they lacked enough proof to win the case.

Among the others on trial are a senior police officer, a local businessmen and a brothel owner known as “Dodo the Pimp”.