Dominique Strauss-Kahn to Confront French Rape Accuser

French journalist and writer Tristane Banon (L) attends a rally in solidarity with rape victims near a Paris Courthouse, in Paris, France, 24 September 2011. Photo by BGNES

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the French writer who has accused him of a 2003 rape attempt, Tristane Banon, have arrived at a police station to be brought face to face.

Police are investigtating 32-year-old Miss Banon's complaint before prosecutors decide whether to press charges, according to a report from The BBC News.

The confrontation between accused and accuser is to take place without lawyers present.

Miss Banon first made her allegations public on television in 2007, but only brought them to magistrates after a chambermaid at the Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan accused Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault in May.

Prosecutors dropped all charges against Strauss-Kahn on August 23 after doubts emerged over the credibility of his accuser, Guinean immigrant Nafissatou Diallo, who is still seeking damages from a US civil court.

Strauss-Kahn, 62, has admitted making "an advance" on Miss Banon, but denies any use of violence and has lodged a lawsuit for slander against the writer over her claim.

Miss Banon's complaint is for attempted rape rather than sexual assault or harassment, and if the prosecutor decides to downgrade the charge the former IMF chief would be protected by a statute of limitations on the lesser crimes, The Daily Telegraph reported.

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