In early 2011, Lille police launched an investigation into an alleged prostitution ring in the city centring on the Belgian pimp Dominique Alderweireld, nicknamed 'Dodo la Saumure', and bosses of the luxurious Hotel Carlton. Francis Henrion, the hotel's owner, director Hervé Franchois and Roger Kojfer, who handled the establishment's public relations, were all arrested as part of the inquiry. Alderweireld and Kojfer were understood to be close friends and police suspected Kojfer of putting some of the hotel's clients in contact with prostitutes.Reuters
In early 2011, Lille police launched an investigation into an alleged prostitution ring in the city centring on the Belgian pimp Dominique Alderweireld, nicknamed 'Dodo la Saumure', and bosses of the luxurious Hotel Carlton. Francis Henrion, the hotel's owner, director Hervé Franchois and Roger Kojfer, who handled the establishment's public relations, were all arrested as part of the inquiry. Alderweireld and Kojfer were understood to be close friends and police suspected Kojfer of putting some of the hotel's clients in contact with prostitutes.ReutersThe investigation widened when it became apparent that several businessmen, lawyers and police officers were also involved in the ring. Some of them, including Strauss-Kahn, denied having paid for sex, though they admitted attending libertine parties arranged by friends. A woman named Mounia R said she had participated in parties at the Murano Hotel. She told police that Beatrice Legrain, Alderweireld's girlfriend, was also present, as well as Strauss-Kahn.http://www.traveltura.com/hoteA prostitute known as Jade confirmed the existence of the network. She told police she had travelled from her home in Belgium on a number of occasions for her work. She said she had several paid sexual encounters with some of the bosses of the Carlton at an apartment close to the hotel. She also took part in a trip to Washington with two other suspects involved in the affair, Patrice Lagarde and Fabrice Paszkowski. While in Washington, she allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with Strauss-Kahn. There were three further trips to the capital, one of which took place the day before the former head of the IMF was arrested after a New York chamber maid accused him of sexually assaulting her.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDominique Strauss-Kahn has been formally placed under arrest by French police upon his arrival at a police station in Lille France. He is being questioned following allegations of his involvement with a prostitution ring and that he benefited from fraud. Strauss-Kahn has admitted having sex with women at orgies parties held in Paris and Washington in 2010 and 2011, but denied he knew they were prostitutes. Investigators will now have to determine whether he knew they were prostitutes and if he was aware of how they were paid. It is alleged that some of the money used to fund the parties came from Eiffage, a major French construction company. Strauss-Kahn is now expected to either be put under formal investigation or released after 48 hours.Reuters
Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest in Lille, northern France, by police investigating a vice ring has put the controversial former head of the IMF back in the spotlight.
Strauss-Kahn, who resigned as boss of the International Monetary Fund in May over sexual assault allegations, was being held for questioning as part of a corruption probe into alleged orgies with prostitutes in Paris and Washington.
He will be interrogated over allegations that he aided the procurement of prostitutes and benefited from fraud.
Under French law police can question him for 48 hours before he is placed under formal investigation - the equivalent of being charged. He previously denied any wrongdoing.
Using prostitutes is not illegal in France but investigators suspect that the prostitutes with whom Strauss-Khan allegedly had sex were paid for using company funds.
The "Affair Carlton" began with an investigation into a notorious Belgian pimp and and alleged llinks to executives at the luxurious Hotel Carlton in Lille.
After suspicions were raised that the hotel was used by a high-class vice ring, claims surfaced that some prostitutes were also taken to Washington DC and Paris, where they met influential clients at other luxury hotels. These included the Murano Hotel in Paris and the W Hotel in Washington DC, both of which have four stars.
