PARIS (AP) – Topless protesters swarmed outside the French courthouse where Dominique Strauss-Kahn was to testify Tuesday in a trial involving orgies and an alleged prostitution ring.
Police tackled the protesters from the provocative group Femen as they shouted and climbed onto what appeared to be the arriving car of the former head of the International Monetary Fund. He is taking the stand for the first time in the trial, in which he is accused of taking part in an international prostitution ring set up to provide him with prostitutes for orgies at luxury hotels in France and the U.S.
Strauss-Kahn’s chances of becoming French president were ruined over an unrelated sex scandal in New York.
The economist, known widely as DSK, faces up to 10 years in prison and a 1.5 million-euro ($1.7 million) fine.
The hearing at a court house in Lille began at 9:30 a.m. with Strauss-Kahn dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and light gray tie. Strauss-Kahn is on trial with 13 other defendents accused of operating a prostitution ring out of luxury hotels in Paris, Washington D.C., Lille and Brussels.