A French prosecutor is calling for aggravated pimping charges to be dropped against the former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Lille prosecutor Frederic Fevre said on Tuesday that neither the investigation nor the evidence given in court had established he was guilty. It's now up to the judge to decide.
Four prostitutes dropped their allegations against 65-year-old Strauss-Kahn, who is on trial along with 13 co-defendants accused of aggravated pimping in connection with a sex ring centered on the Hotel Carlton in Lille.
The economist, known widely as DSK, faces up to 10 years in prison and a 1.5 million-euro ($1.7 million) fine if convicted.
Strauss-Kahn admitted taking part in the orgies but said he didn't know the women involved were prostitutes.
"I am horrified by the idea of using prostitutes," he said. "I always believed that these women came for me — because of who I am."
It's not illegal to pay for sex in France, but it's against the law to solicit or to run a prostitution business.